Sir Vivian Richards has called for Alzarri Joseph and West Indies Head Coach Daren Sammy to repair their relationship after their disagreement over the fast bowler’s absence from the Test series against Pakistan developed into a public dispute. Richards also questioned whether Sammy needed to publicly characterise Joseph’s decision as declining selection, after Cricket West Indies (CWI) had announced the player was unavailable for personal reasons.
The disagreement emerged after Joseph was absent from the 15-member squad for the two-Test series. Sammy subsequently indicated that the fast bowler had been selected but declined to play, while saying the matter was beyond his authority and should be addressed by CWI directors in relation to contracted players declining selection.
Joseph challenged that account publicly, maintaining that his situation had already been discussed with both Sammy and CWI. Richards has now called for the issue to be resolved between two figures who previously worked together at the St Lucia franchise.
Richards calls for relationship to be rebuilt
Richards believes the disagreement should not be allowed to undermine the professional relationship between Joseph and Sammy. The former West Indies Captain pointed to their history together while discussing the situation with Antigua Observer.
West Indies Legend Sir Vivian Richards told Antigua Observer, “This sometimes hampers guys’ professional careers, you know. Such statements, if it’s not true and stuff like that, a lot of things linger. The two had a great relationship when he was with the St Lucia franchise, so I’m not quite so certain why relations have gone a bit south. The relationship, I know, is much bigger than what we hear on the air so it would be of importance to try and rekindle that. We sometimes misstep at times and so long as we have a heart at times, knowing that sometimes the mistakes that we make, we can always put things together and get these guys going again,”
The dispute centres on how Joseph’s absence was communicated publicly, with CWI citing personal reasons before Sammy offered his own account of the selection situation.
Richards added, “I would like to think that Alzarri, and this is just my opinion, would have made it clear as to exactly what the whole stuff was and how he felt and what he meant and I think there are two sides to the story. To get the coach saying – and to me it looks like he (was saying) – he (Alzarri) refused selection, and that’s pushing it in my opinion, it’s pushing it in a very big way. I’d like to think that Alzarri would have gone about it in the professional way, and so that at least the statement from coach Sammy wasn’t really necessary in my opinion,”
Joseph points to discussions with Sammy and CWI
Joseph’s account places his decision within conversations that took place before the Pakistan series. The fast bowler said he had communicated directly with both the Head Coach and CWI before the squad announcement.
West Indies Fast Bowler Alzarri Joseph said on the Good Morning Jojo Sport Show, “We had a chat, myself and the head coach. I’ve also had a chat with CWI and if you realise the statement CWI released said personal reasons. Mr Sammy, being around for a long time, he knows exactly what that statement would have done. So to be honest, I have nothing to say to Mr Sammy in terms of his statement. Like I said, he knows exactly what that statement would have done and the narrative it would have pushed in the public.”
Joseph had only recently returned to international cricket following an extended period on the sidelines. He came back to Test cricket against Sri Lanka in June after recovering from a lower-back injury that had kept him out of previous tours of India and New Zealand, before also playing the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.
Joseph added, “Obviously, I’ve been out for an entire year. I haven’t played at international intensity for so long after having a second stress fracture. We spoke about me playing the two Test matches here, playing five back-to-back ODIs and how my body was feeling and I knew to myself, my body was not ready to go into another Test series. So, the statement in itself is controversial, without context,”
Professional relationship remains under focus
The public disagreement has also raised questions about how Joseph and Sammy will work together when the fast bowler returns to the West Indies setup. Joseph has maintained that his priority remains performing his responsibilities as an international cricketer rather than the state of his personal relationship with the Head Coach.
Addressing the relationship, Joseph said, “I’m a professional, so I’m going to go to work. I am representing the West Indies. I’m not representing Daren Sammy, so for me, I’m neither here nor there in terms of a relationship. I don’t go there to make friends. I go there to work and do a job and represent the people of the West Indies,”
Joseph’s absence came during a Pakistan series that ultimately finished level. West Indies won the opening Test by 90 runs before Pakistan responded by winning the second match, leaving the two-Test contest drawn 1-1.
With the series concluded, the focus around Joseph and Sammy now moves beyond the immediate selection decision. Richards’ intervention has placed their working relationship at the centre of the issue as Joseph looks towards his eventual return to West Indies duty following his decision to sit out the Pakistan Tests.
