Cricket World Player Of The Week - Darren Sammy

Cricket World Player Of The Week - Darren Sammy

Darren Sammy

©REUTERS/Andrew Caballero-Reynolds. Picture supplied by Action Images

West Indies captain Darren Sammy has been named as the Cricket World® Player Of The Week after he led his side to a 40-run Test victory over Pakistan in Providence, Guyana.

It was his first win as skipper and he led by example, taking five for 29 on the final day to dismiss Pakistan for 178, having taken two for 16 in the first innings.

It was also the West Indies' first Test victory for 27 months and 17 matches with some players on the side - notably Devendra Bishoo and Lendl Simmons - getting their first taste of victory at Test level.

Sammy dismissed Azhar Ali and Taufeeq Umar in the first innings, breaking an important partnership but he really starred with the ball in the second innings as he and Ravi Rampaul closed out the match.

He again picked up the big wickets - this time of Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Akmal once Rampaul had removed Asad Shafiq and he then finished off the tail by getting rid of Mohammad Salman, Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal.

Ajmal was one of the other contenders for the weekly award having taken 11 wickets in the match, while Misbah, the only man in the game to score a half-century, was also considered.

However, Sammy's efforts at the helm of a largely inexperienced and young side, earned him the award.

© Cricket World 2011