The West Indies have drawn inspiration from those who wrote them off ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 according to captain Darren Sammy.
In a press conference punctuated by a series of jokes ahead of Sunday’s final against England, Sammy also hit back at those who underestimated his side.
“People paint us as money-grabbing cricketers because of our success in T20 cricket but still they don’t respect us in this format,” he said.
“Everybody is entitled to their opinion. But whatever they say it doesn’t really matter.
“Gods don’t love the ugly. We’re very wonderfully, beautifully made and that’s why we play exciting cricket.”
Sammy pitched his team as David versus Goliath ahead of their semi-final against India, and when was asked what role they took against England, was equally bullish.
Now THIS is how you celebrate a semi-final win!
Imagine if @darrensammy88, @DJBravo47 and @westindies win it all!https://t.co/OT1qV65hnn
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) March 31, 2016
“We are always David. David is a winner,” he said.
“Even now I still think people don’t give us a chance. Goliath is big and strong but David defeated him with one shot.
“We will always see ourselves as David. We will play like David, be smart about it, believe in ourselves in the dressing room.
“If we do all these things we know we could do with that belief, we’re going to lift the cup.”
The West Indies’ ‘Champion’ dance has gained cult status since they arrived at the competition, enthusiastically aired after every victory and even in defeat alongside Afghanistan.
They were also filmed performing their moves in the lobby of the team hotel following their victory over India, and Sammy is already anticipating the merriment that would follow victory on Sunday.
“Just thinking about lifting that cup tomorrow, I can almost foresee what’s going to happen after. But we have a game of cricket to play first,” he said.
“It’s going to be a match up of skill versus skill and mind power versus mind power, but I know we win the celebration part.”
Source: ECB