KINGSTON, Jamaica — The West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) on Wednesday publicly thanked former captain Darren Sammy for his service to West Indies Test cricket.

“He (Sammy) was a valued player and led the team admirably throughout his tenure as captain. We are sadden but respectful of his decision to retire from the longer format of the game, and we wish him all the best,” WIPA’s President and CEO Wavell Hinds said in a release.

At the same time WIPA also extended best wishes to new Test captain Denesh Ramdin who will lead the team in the 2014 Digicel Home Series against New Zealand.

“Ramdin is a tactical thinker, we will give our support while we expect great things from him as the new captain of the West Indies Test team,” added Hinds.

Sammy was replaced as the West Indies Test captain by Ramdin last week and subsequently announced his retirement from the longest format of the game.

However, he retains the captaincy of the Twenty20 team and is available for limited-overs selection.

According to WIPA the Windward Islands all-rounder played 38 Tests for the West Indies and captained the teams in 30 of those matches. He was instrumental in leading the West Indies during the emergence of franchise Twenty20 cricket that left the West Indies without several of its premier players.