Asserting that he had no choice but to retire from Test cricket, hard-hitting West Indies all-rounder Darren Sammy today said his role was not needed as captain and player in that format and IPL had nothing to do with his decision.
"It was something I thought about after I discussed with the selectors. After listening to the management and teams' views about the way they needed to move to the next level in Test cricket, I understood that my role wasn't needed as captain or player. This was the way forward," Sammy told PTI in an interview.
Sammy, who remains as the T20 skipper, decided to retire from Test captaincy on Friday when the selectors anounced Denesh Ramdin as his replacement. The 6 feet 5 inches tall player said it's best to read the writing on the wall.
"Now West Indies cricket is at a new dispensation. It has a new force and direction and I am no longer required to play a role in Tests. I had no choice but to retire from Test cricket," said Sammy.
The news of his Test axe might have been bitter pill to swallow for the Sunrisers Hyderabad player, who is busy with IPL, but Sammy insists that the lure of T20 cricket is not the reason behind his decision.
"I am having a great time in IPL. But my decision was not based on IPL or things like this. It was solely on the direction the Test team was heading and there were no plans for me as a captain and as a player," clarified Sammy.
It is the first time that West Indies cricket has different leadership in all the three formats with Dwayne Bravo as the ODI skipper. Sammy opines that it's always better to accept change.
"It is not about right or wrong. I was captain at point of stage of all formats. I was aksked to captain at a time when the team needed stability. Change is inevitable. Sometimes we might not like it. Sometimes we may not agree with but we have to accept it," said the medium-pacer.
