21 Questions: Darren Sammy

West Indies’ double-World T20-winning captain Darren Sammy answers 21 silly questions.

Describe yourself in one word.
Smiley

What words or phrases do you most overuse?
‘Execute’

What is your most marked characteristic?
My smiles, being happy

If you could edit your past, what would you change?
Oooo… what would I change? I’m kind of happy with where I’m at right now

What is your idea of happiness?
Sitting at home in St Lucia with the family, on the balcony, probably having a glass of wine, watching the kids playing with my wife and giving jokes about our life stories. That would be perfect

What’s your ideal sandwich?
Every time I go to Subway I buy a chicken teriyaki on Italian herbs and cheese bread

Which living person do you most admire and why?
My mum, Clara Sammy. And I’ve always been a big fan of Roger Federer, because of his longevity and the way he handles himself whether he wins or he loses

What piece of advice would you give to your 16-year-old self?
It turned out OK because cricket has given me everything but I wish I took my schoolwork more seriously

What has been your biggest disappointment?
Not playing in the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean because I had worked really hard to get fit and be in the team

If you were an animal, what would you be?
A lion, or an eagle

What is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?
My wife

What becomes of the broken hearted?
I’ll smile at them and try to cheer them up

What’s wrong with the world?
Too much hate, not enough love

Which three people would you invite to your dream dinner party?
Outside of my family, I would love to have Jesus Christ at my dinner, I would invite Martin Luther King, because of what he’s done in the history of black people, and then Nelson Mandela. But then I would sneak Halle Berry in there, too

Whose windows would you most like to smash?
Some people in administration…

What song would you have playing when walking out to bat?
The World’s Greatest, by R Kelly

Who would you like to play you in a film of your life?
Will Smith or Denzel Washington

If you could be one other cricketer for a day, who would you be?
Brian Charles Lara

What’s your ultimate pet hate?
[Long pause] I never had a pet, you know. [Clarification given] Oh! People shouting at me. People elevating their voice gets to me

What was the first record you bought?
R Kelly – TP-2

Who is your favourite fictional hero?
Superman

About the author

Picture of Freddie Chatt

Freddie Chatt

Freddie is a cricket badger. Since his first experience of cricket at primary school, he's been in love with the game. Playing for his local village club, Great Baddow Cricket Club, for the past 20 years. A wicketkeeper-batsman, who has fluked his way to two scores of over 170, yet also holds the record for the most ducks for his club. When not playing, Freddie is either watching or reading about the sport he loves.