Hussey, Watson hail Sammy stadium honour

CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – The Australian duo of Mike Hussey and Shane Watson have congratulated St Lucia Zouks teammate Darren Sammy, following the St Lucia government’s decision to rename the Beausejour Cricket Ground in his honour.


Watson, who retired from international cricket following the recent Twenty20 World Cup in India, hailed Sammy as a “great leader” and said he was looking forward to playing alongside him at the Zouks’ home ground in Gros Islet.

“I knew when I first signed up for CPL how passionate the West Indies public are, but to receive this news about the St Lucia government’s decision to re-name the national stadium in honour of one of their favourite sporting sons is a huge thing, especially for someone so young who has so much top level cricket ahead of him,” Watson said.

“Darren is a great leader and a true champion in all regards, and I know how passionate he is about the Zouks. He deserves this accolade for the manner he has led the West Indies team and this is an honour for all time.

“It really excites me about being a part of CPL 2016 and I can’t wait to step out on the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium this summer.”Hussey, meanwhile, affectionately known as Mr Cricket, called the honour for Sammy an “incredible accolade”, and heaped praise on West Indies for winning the T20 World Cup.

“To win a world title for your country is the ultimate accolade and I would like to offer my congratulations to fellow Zouks man Darren Sammy, coach Phil Simmons and the West Indies team on their win last weekend in the ICC World T20,” said Hussey, who averaged 51 in 79 Tests and 48 from 185 one-dayers. “With the government now marking this historic achievement with the re-naming of the Beausejour Cricket Ground, it indicates once more to the world the high love and esteem that the West Indies has for their local heroes. Congrats to Darren on this incredible accolade in his home nation.”

Sammy led West Indies to the second T20 World Cup title when the Caribbean side beat England by four wickets in the final of the tournament in India last Sunday.