BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — FOLLOWING a successful year with the white-ball team, West Indies limited-overs coach Daren Sammy has been appointed to lead the regional side across all formats of the game.
The announcement was made at a recent press conference in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where the West Indies are currently playing a T20 series against Bangladesh.
Sammy will replace the current Test head coach, Andre Coley, whose tenure will conclude after the away series against Pakistan. This series will also mark the end of the West Indies’ current Test Championship cycle. The St. Lucian will assume responsibility for the red-ball team beginning next year, starting with the home series against Australia.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) described the move as “a strategic reshaping of its coaching framework, appointing Daren Sammy as Head Coach across all formats. This decision reflects CWI’s commitment to improving its high-performance system throughout West Indies cricket. Sammy’s first outing with the Test team will be during the home series against Australia in June 2025.”
Coley, who was appointed last year to oversee Test cricket, will continue to contribute to CWI's high-performance initiatives in other capacities.
Sammy received high praise for his success with the white-ball teams this year. Under his leadership, the T20I team climbed four places in the ICC rankings, advancing from 9th to 5th. He also guided the West Indies ODI team to a dominant 3-0 series victory over Bangladesh, ending an 11-match losing streak. This came after success in the ODI series against England earlier in the year.
CWI highlighted Sammy’s strategic and data-driven leadership approach, stating that his methods emphasize "role clarity, fostering a winning mentality, and utilizing insights to deliver results. His approach aligns seamlessly with CWI’s vision of elevating the competitiveness of West Indies cricket on the global stage.”
CWI President Dr. Kishore Shallow expressed confidence in Sammy's leadership abilities, saying, “Daren Sammy has demonstrated exceptional leadership during his tenure with the white-ball teams. His vision, dedication, and ability to inspire players make him the ideal candidate to lead across all formats.”
CWI Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe also spoke about Sammy’s appointment while acknowledging Andre Coley’s contributions.
“We recognize and appreciate Andre’s efforts during his tenure and look forward to him serving West Indies cricket in other meaningful capacities. We are confident there will be a seamless transition from Andre to Daren for the Test team. Both are professionals who have worked productively in the past,” said Bascombe.
Meanwhile, the West Indies will wrap up their three-match T20 series against Bangladesh today (Dec. 19) at the Arnos Vale Cricket Ground in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The visitors currently lead the series 2–0.
