WICB announces Ramdin’s appointment as Test captain

The West Indies Cricket Board on May 9 announced that wicketkeeper/batsman Denesh Ramdin has been appointed West Indies Test captain. Ramdin takes over from Darren Sammy, who served in the post from October 2010 to May 2014.{{more}}

Ramdin was the standing West Indies Test vice captain and previously served as West Indies Under 19 and A Team captain. The 29-year-old has played 56 Tests in addition to 109 one day internationals and 46 twenty20 internationals.

“The Board of Directors of the WICB approved the recommendation which was made by the West Indies Selection Panel chaired by Clyde Butts and with Robert Haynes, Courtney Browne and Head Coach Ottis Gibson as members,” a release from the WICB said.

President of the WICB, Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron, said that the Board is refocusing its attention on getting maximum performance for each format of the game and now is an ideal time to make the adjustments as we adopt the recommendations from the report done by the Director of Cricket.

“We thank Darren for his energetic and resolute leadership over the past four years and we continue to see his role as the Twenty20 captain as a critical one. The Board has approved the recommendation of the Selection Panel. We wish Denesh consistent success and commit the full support of the Board as he takes on the mammoth responsibility of Test captain,” president Cameron said.

Ramdin said he is honoured by the confidence placed in him.

“It is an honour to be named as captain of the West Indies Test team. This is a huge opportunity and as a unit we are capable of representing the people of the West Indies,” Ramdin said.

“It is something very special to represent the people of the West Indies and to be named to lead the Test team and chart the course forward is humbling and extra special. I thank the WICB for affording me this incredible opportunity and I also thank the TTCB for the opportunity to lead Trinidad & Tobago.

“I am taking over from Darren who did a good job while he was at the helm. He is a very humble and hardworking cricketer and during his time at the helm we won six matches and gave his all to the job.

“My first assignment will be against New Zealand at home and this promises to be a very exciting series. I am a very calm individual and I will bring that level of calmness to the job and to the team as we look to move forward and build a winning Test team which will make the people of the West Indies proud.”

Sammy offered his support to Ramdin in a public comment.

“Congratulations to Ramdin on being named Test captain. God’s speed, brother, as you look to take us forward. Thanks to all for the support,” Sammy offered.

Ramdin’s first appointment in his new role will be the West Indies versus New Zealand Test in Jamaica, starting on June 8th. The second Test at the Queen’s Park Oval will be his first as Test captain on home soil.

Ramdin is only the second West Indian wicketkeeper to have been formally appointed Test captain following Gerry Alexander. (Ridley Jacobs was named captain for a series against Bangladesh when Carl Hooper was injured). Since his return to Test cricket in 2012, Ramdin has scored 728 runs at an average of 42.8 with three centuries.

The appointment of Ramdin as Test captain is also historic, as it is the first occasion on which the West Indies will have three separate men’s international captains.

The position will again be up for review in 2015.