Despite plans to introduce more white-ball players in the West Indies Test team, all-format Head Coach Daren Sammy says he has no intentions to disregard the players who have previously been part of the red-ball setup.

St Lucian Sammy takes charge of the men’s Test team on April 1, replacing Jamaican Andre Coley whose stint ended in January. Notwithstanding historic Test match wins against Australia and Pakistan which resulted in drawn series, the Caribbean side struggled during Coley’s 20-month tenure. They failed to win any of their seven series, suffering losses to England, India and twice to South Africa and drawing at home with Bangladesh.

In December, Cricket West Indies appointed Sammy as head coach across all formats, following his “exceptional leadership during his tenure with the white-ball teams”, which began in May 2023.

With the Twenty20 (T20) team moving up to fourth in the world and the One-Day International (ODI) team winning four of eight series under Sammy, it’s been suggested that white-ball players could feature prominently in the team going forward.

However, Sammy is adamant that there won’t be wholesale changes to the Test team.

“Don’t get me wrong, I hear the people with chatter [about] white-ball players. I’ve never said I’m going to make the Test team a white-ball team, I’ve never said that. Let’s get that clear,” he said.

“However, I do believe there are players who play ODI cricket that are very much capable, based on their skill set, they bring to be successful in Test cricket especially when you look at what’s available and the results.”

The former West Indies captain says many of the current Test players will remain as they fit his brand of cricket.

“Andre Coley has managed to get some amazing victories in places we were not able to win and then the data we’ve collected and the roles we have put in place and the personnel that’s still there in Test cricket that are doing things that we believe could complement and add value to the brand we want to play, they’re all available for selection,” Sammy said.

While Sammy intends to incorporate ODI and T20 players into the Test team, he says it won’t be a free for all.

“I know all the players who have indicated their interest and all who have no interest in playing Test cricket. It is not everybody who wants to play Test cricket will play Test cricket. There is a process and a skill set that is required to fulfil that role and we have to be fair to all those young guys playing in the regional four-day tournament and putting their hand up for selection,” said Sammy.

“When that time comes and with all the conversations I have had, when we now sit down as a selection group and based on the roles that are required, we will now pick the personnel that will fit those roles. That is how we’re going to go about it, whether that is guys who have not played Test cricket before, guys who have been playing the Test team, guys who have performed in the regional tournament, it will be the best persons suited for that role that we want, that will be selected,” he added.

Sammy’s first Test series in charge will be in July when the West Indies host Australia in a three match series with the third test set for Sabina Park scheduled for July 12 to 16.