Every game like a final now, says Sammy

West Indies captain backs team to bounce back in 3rd ODI against Australia.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy has said his team will be out to make a statement of their own in its must-win third One-Day International (ODI) against Australia in Canberra today.

Following defeats in the first two ODIs, the tourists are already staring down the barrel of a loss in the five-match series but Sammy is adamant the West Indies will bounce back to deny Australia the chance of celebrating a series win.

“West Indians know how to set up a good party,” said Sammy. “From now on every game is a final for us, and we’ve got to play it like that. History is in the making and we love being a part of history.”

The West Indies go into the match with somewhat of a home ground advantage. It will be the first time the Australian team will play a match on the ground, whereas the West Indies played a warm-up game against the Prime Minister’s XI there a week ago when more than 640 runs were scored.

“We have already played there and the pitch is a very good one. I guess it was a very good outing and we expect the same on the match day.”

Sammy also played down the danger Australian paceman Mitchell Starc posed to his team despite the havoc wreaked by him in the first two ODIs.

“He (Starc) is bowling well at the moment but he’s not unplayable. We will find a solution for him.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6^th, 2013.