KOLKATA – Darren Sammy has made it clear that the West Indies have no intention of allowing Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell from international cricket to overshadow their main mission on the tour of India.
The Windies captain acknowledged the enormous respect Tendulkar has earned over an international career spanning more than two decades.
But Sammy said the visitors’ ultimate goal in India was to continue their winning six-match Test streak and prove that they had matured since they faced India two years ago on the sub-continent.
“Sachin is an amazing cricketer – if not one of the best cricketers to have played the game – and what he has done over the last 24 years is a testimony to his character and person himself,” Sammy said at the official arrival media conference yesterday.
“But we are happy to be here and we came to play Test cricket. Even though it is Sachin’s retirement, we have our own goals to achieve.
“It will be a lot of excitement and celebration, but at the end of the day it’s a competition between West Indies and India.
“I have read a newspaper article that made me probably public enemy No. 1, after putting [that we wanted to dismiss him first ball] as the headline. We all respect Sachin, but just because it’s his last Test, we are not going to give him a hundred.
“If he comes to bat and we get him out first ball, it’s good for us. We have not come here to give freebies. We have come to play two tough Tests because I know the Indians would not be giving us any freebies, so why should we?” asked Sammy.
Sammy led West Indies when they visited two years ago and India prevailed 2-0 in a three-Test series – but a few established players were missing.
He said the Windies had a more experienced side on this trip, including a few of the players that had been part of the previous series, and he was confident of pushing the home team in the upcoming Tests.
“The last time we played here, we had a number of young players and Shivnarine Chanderpaul was our only experienced batsman,” he said.
“We had young players like Kirk Edwards, Kieran Powell and Darren Bravo who barely had a handful of Tests between them – but now we have Marlon Samuels, Chris Gayle and other players that have come here and played well.”
“We have come here more mature, having won six consecutive Tests, so we have a lot more experience this time and we are looking to come out here, be competitive and win matches.”
Team manager Richie Richardson shared Sammy’s sentiment, saying Tendulkar will have to earn every single run in the series from November 6 to 18.
The second Test is expected to be Tendulkar’s 200th and final.
“We want to make it clear that we have come here with a mission to win the series.
“We will try our best to stop him from scoring runs. We will not let him [get] an inch. He has to earn every run,” Richardson said.
During West Indies’ last tour to India in 2011, Tendulkar was the centre of attention as he neared his 100th international century.
However, during the Mumbai Test, he came within six runs of the landmark before being dismissed by Ravi Rampaul.
“Winning a series in the sub-continent is a big challenge for every team,” said Richardson who played against Tendulkar before his retirement from international cricket in 1996. “It’s a big opportunity for the youngsters.”
Richardson has also disclosed that they have planned a tribute for Tendulkar but has declined to reveal details.
“We all have thought about giving a fitting tribute to Tendulkar after his last Test at Wankhede. We don’t want to reveal our plans. It will be a big surprise for him.”
West Indies will begin their first tour match, a three-day fixture against Uttar Pradesh at the Jadavpur University Complex in Kolkata, today. (CMC)
