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'Faulkner certainly wouldn't like the West Indians now'
West Indies captain Darren Sammy got a rousing applause from members of the media as he entered the conference arena with his pads still on, before coming up with this retort: “It feels better to hit a guy, who was talking a lot.”
This was in response to Australia bowler James Faulkner's comment that he does not like the West Indians.
"Cricket is a game of action. It all happens in the field. It feels good to come good when it mattered. I believe this win would hurt them [Australians] and James Faulkner certainly wouldn't like the West Indians now," Sammy said, after his 13-ball-34 almost shut the door on the Australians in the ICC World T20.
Faulkner had earlier commented that he does not like the West Indians and Sammy said he did not pay heed to what the all-rounder has to say.
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'It feels better to hit a guy who was talking a lot'
On Friday, though, he was in a mood to talk.
"It feels better to hit a guy who was talking a lot," he said, in an obvious dig at Faulkner.
About playing two dot balls, he said, "I knew I had to hit sixes. But then we are known as a six-hitting team [referring to Suresh Raina's comments before the India – West Indies game]. Happy to have crossed the line today as the match was important for both teams."
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'We play with flair and love to celebrate our success'
About Chris Gayle's angry 'Gangnam Dance', Sammy said, "Chris is the leader of our dancing group. We play with flair and love to celebrate our success."
On the dashing opener's form, the skipper said, "I had said that Chris is hitting the ball well at the nets; we all know how dangerous he can be if he is there at the wicket."
Sammy's last stroke was the typical 'Helicopter Shot' that is patented by Dhoni.
Asked about it, Sammy replied, "I knew that he would be bowling fuller and I had moved towards off-stump. Probably, I would have been out if I missed the line, but it was one such day when it came off well.
"That's why I say that cricket is played in the field. As far as the 'Helicopter Shot' is concerned, it will remain Dhoni's shot and not mine."
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'They are entitled to celebrate as art of winning is harder than art of losing'
Sammy's opposite number, George Bailey, took the West Indies' celebrations chin-up.
"They are entitled to celebrate as 'art of winning' is harder than 'art of losing'."
About Australia's chances in the tournament, Bailey admitted that it's pretty bleak now following the defeat to the West Indies.
"In this format you could afford to lose one game and not two. I am not sure where it leads us from here on."
Although he was happy to get to 178 he was not entirely satisfied with his top-order’s performance.
"All the top six batsmen played pretty poor shots. We also let ourselves down in the field. The repercussions are so instant. Yet I believe that despite poor shots, we were able to reach 178 which makes me happy."
Rookie leg-spinner James Muirhead had bowled a decent spell but Bailey said that Faulkner was preferred for his "pure death bowling skills".
"I don't think that there are many leg-spinners who have bowling between overs 18-20 in this competition. We might think in retrospect that we could have used him [in the final over]."