Controversial and Without Context: Joseph Fires Back At Coach Sammy Following Selection Statement

By Neto Baptiste
Fast bowler, Alzarri Joseph, has labelled statements by coach of the West Indies senior men’s team, Daren Sammy, regarding his decision to sit out the ongoing Test series against Pakistan, as “controversial and without context”.
The Antiguan, speaking on the Good Morning Jojo Sport Show, said the coach knew of the arrangement ahead of time.
“We had a chat, myself and the head coach. I’ve also had a chat with CWI and if you realize the statement CWI released said personal reasons. Mr Sammy, being around for a long time, he knows exactly what that statement would have done so to be honest, I have nothing to say to Mr Sammy in terms of his statement. Like I said, he knows exactly what that statement would have done and the narrative it would have pushed in the public,” he said.
“Obviously, I’ve been out for an entire year. I haven’t played at international intensity for so long after having a second stress fracture. We spoke about me playing the two Test matches here, playing five back-to-back ODIs and how my body was feeling and I knew to myself, my body was not ready to go into another Test series. So, the statement in itself is controversial, without context,” he added.
Following the announcement of the 15-member squad for the two-match Test series in Trinidad, Sammy said that Joseph had “declined selection” after he was selected for the series. The head coach, went on to add that the decision was “way over my head” and that he is leaving “that with the directors to come up with whatever solutions where contracted players get to decline selection”.
Asked if the situation has soured the relationship with the head coach, Joseph said his focus and top priority is still West Indies cricket and offering the best possible representation at all times.
“I’m a professional, so I’m going to go to work. I am representing the West Indies. I’m not representing Daren Sammy, so for me, I’m neither here nor there in terms of a relationship. I don’t go there to make friends. I go there to work and do a job and represent the people of the West Indies,” the fast bowler said.
Joseph returned to Test cricket in June this year against Sri Lanka, after recovering from a lower back injury that had sidelined him from previous tours of India and New Zealand. The Antiguan also played the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.
West Indies are one-nil up in the two-match Test series against Pakistan after winning the opener by 90 runs. The second Test bowls off on August 2nd.