Darren Sammy, Kemar Roach, Jerome Taylor and Denesh Ramdin recall their World Cup memories and pick out their stars – past and future – of ODI cricket
Interviews by George Dobell and Melinda Farrell09-Feb-2015What is your earliest World Cup memory?Kemar Roach: Growing up in Barbados, people talked about West Indies winning the first two World Cups all the time. I was too young to watch it live, but they kept showing it on TV. I grew up knowing all about it.Jerome Taylor: My first World Cup as a player was in 2007. Brian Lara was the captain. As a youngster, it was so exciting. Playing in the World Cup is as big as you can get and I am very proud to represent the people of the Caribbean. I am too young to remember the days when we won the World Cup, but I grew up hearing about it.Darren Sammy: 1996. Richie Richardson was the captain. I remember Paul Adams bowling to Brian Lara. I think he scored a hundred against South Africa. That’s as far back as I can remember. But I have a good, good memory of the first two World Cups that we won because I’ve watched them so many times on tape. It’s just the most prestigious event in world cricket.Denesh Ramdin: 1996. Sri Lanka playing against… I can’t remember the opposition. Romesh Kaluwitharana was the opening batsman. I loved watching him bat – he was good. I probably wanted to emulate him more than anyone. The opportunity hasn’t arrived as yet. But that was probably it for me.West Indies’ young captain Jason Holder will have a good World Cup, his team-mates reckon•AFPWho will be the breakthrough player in this World Cup?KR: Our skipper, Jason Holder. I think he can perform really well. He is a very talented guy and I support him fully. We’ve played cricket together for a long time. I guess we’ve grown up together. So I know him pretty well and know what he’s capable of. He can definitely bowl a bit faster. He just needs a couple more gym sessions. He has a great future in front of him.JT: We have some really good youngsters. So do Australia and South Africa. David Miller from South Africa is a good talent. But I’m going to go for young [Darren] Bravo. He is a very exciting cricketer. And in the bowling I’d say Kemar Roach will come through. I’d mention myself too. It has been a long, painful road back and the rehab took a long time. But I am feeling strong now. I never condoned the thought that I would never play again. Age was on my side. I’m here and I’m over that.DS: From our team, young Jonathan Carter. It’s his first time into the West Indies set-up. For express pace we have Sheldon Cottrell, he could be the surprise package, and also we have a young captain, Jason Holder, who, I think, has an excellent cricket brain. I think his decisions on the field will be very important for us to go far in this World Cup.DR: There’s young Jonathan Carter, who, I dare say, will make his World Cup debut. He’s a young player, enthusiastic, a hard worker and once he gets the opportunity he has shots all around the park, similar in style to Eoin Morgan. He’s a very exciting young guy.For destruction, please see Gayle, Chris•Associated PressWho is the best death bowler you’ve seen?KR: Malinga is the best. Obviously. That yorker is a hard ball to bowl, but it is the best ball to bowl when the batsman is going. He does it better than anyone. I try to do it, too, but he is definitely the best.JT: It goes without saying that it’s Malinga.DS: Waqar Younis, Joel Garner – those yorkers he kept firing in the two World Cups we won. At this present stage with the fast bowlers I think Malinga is a cut above all. He does it at will, not only at the death but with the new ball he could bowl yorkers for fun. Sunil Narine for us, he’s not here but he’s very difficult to hit in the death overs.DR: I’d say Lasith Malinga.Who are West Indies going to play in the final?KR: Australia.JT: It doesn’t matter. Lots of teams have a chance, but I believe we can be there.The 1975 World Cup final, where Viv Richards ran out three Australian batsmen, is a very memorable match for West Indies fans•PA PhotosDS: To be honest, I don’t care. As long as the West Indies are there in the final that’s all that matters. We’ve got to three finals and we’ve won two.DR: I think, realistically in these conditions, it might be Australia or New Zealand. At the moment they’re playing some great cricket.Who is the most destructive batsman you’ve seen?KR: Chris Gayle is still No. 1 for me. When he is going, he is very tough to bowl against. And AB de Villiers is right up there as well in recent times. I didn’t play in that game [in Johannesburg where de Villiers scored a century in 31 balls]. Maybe not the worst to miss.JT: That’s easy: Chris Gayle. AB de Villiers is another who can cause some damage, but I’m going for Gayle. I’m happy he is part of the West Indies team as I wouldn’t want to bowl at him.DS: Chris Gayle followed by AB de Villiers.DR: I’d say Chris Gayle.What’s the best World Cup match you can remember?KR: The South Africa and Australia game in the 1999 World Cup wasn’t bad.JT: I’d have to say the 2011 final between Sri Lanka and India.DS: The World Cup final where Viv Richards got three run-outs. I watched it on tape and it was excellent.DR: In 2003, when Pakistan played Australia. Australia were struggling and then Andrew Symonds scored 150-odd. He batted really well there.Have you ever had a proper job?MS Dhoni and Andre Russell: handy finishers•BCCIKR: No. I left school and went straight into the West Indies team.JT: Nah. Cricket is what I do for a living. It’s what I’ve done all my life.DS: Yes. When I had just left school I was an office assistant at the Ministry of Commerce. I did some filing and when my boss needed stuff to be done I had to make sure I did it. I looked after all the letters, just office stuff. I resigned after I started playing for the West Indies because I was never at home to work. They kept writing to the public service asking for time off with pay. () I was on national duty so they had to pay me.DR: I used to cut grass part-time, that’s about it. I was probably about 16 or 17. It was for extra pocket money but it wasn’t much at the time. It was around the neighbourhood and a bit outside that as well, in San Fernando, Trinidad. I used to have to get up really early, four o’clock in the morning and cut the grass before it was too hot.Who is the best finisher?KR: James Faulkner is pretty good. And Andre Russell and Darren Sammy are pretty good, too.JT: Michael Bevan was very good. In the present day and age, Andre Russell is a good one. And Darren Sammy, to some extent, is good, too. David Miller is exciting and [Steven] Smith is good to watch.DS: Right now, MS Dhoni and AB de Villiers. Chris Gayle normally bats at the top but if he is batting in the later overs I would definitely put him up there. Kieron Pollard’s name comes in there, too.DR: I would say the best finisher is MS Dhoni. He calculates the game quite well and he bats down low and gives himself a chance.