CPL: Budding all-rounder idolises Darren Sammy

Castries (St. Lucia), July 9 (IANS): Young all-rounder Dalton Polius, on the verge of making his debut in the inaugural Caribbean Premier League (CPL), has named West Indies test and T20 captain Darren Sammy as his hero.

Polius, who last year helped Team St. Lucia win the Windward Islands Tournament for the first time in 43 years, said he emulated the likes of former Windies captain Brian Lara before Sammy arrived.

However, the ambitious 22-year-old cricketer says although he idolises Sammy, who is credited with helping revive West Indies cricket, he wants to surpass his achievements.

“Then Darren Sammy came along. He is my hero and has been a source of inspiration to me,” said Dalton who will represent the St. Lucia Zouks franchise.

“He has achieved so much and my aim is to reach and even surpass his achievements.”

Polius, who started taking cricket seriously at the age of 11 represented St. Lucia and the Windward Islands in both Under-15 and Under-19 tournaments.

In 2011, he played his first game for the Windwards Senior Team against the England lions ‘A’ Team in Dominica.

“My Dad was a huge cricket fan and played cricket with passion. At first, I didn’t really like the sport but it grew on me,” said Polius.

“Having been in the environment for so long I had to give in, and once I did it was like second nature. It was like a natural progression of my life and from then onwards I wanted to be a cricketer.”

In 2007, Polius who attended the Castries Comprehensive Secondary School, become the first student from the school to be chosen to attend Woodhouse Grove School in England where he pursued his ‘A’ Level studies.

He later returned to play for Collingham Linton Cricket Club in the Aira-Wharfe Cricket League, Division one.

In June this year, Polius entered the programme at the Sagicor High Performance Centre in Barbados for an 18-month stint which will take him up to December next year.