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Pollard lauds Pooran for T20 series win
Kaieteur News – West Indies white ball Captain Kieron Pollard lauded his deputy Nicholas Pooran for the T20 series win against Australia.
Speaking after their 4-1 series win, Pollard said Pooran’s leadership was fantastic and it was a joy to watch.
Kieron Pollard (centre) talks to his squad. Nicholas Pooran is at left. (AFP)
“The way he went out and he led was absolutely fantastic, it was a joy to watch, the way how the guys played the entire series, you can’t feel any better the way you feel at the moment,” he added.
Chris Gayle returned to form with typically aggressive half century and Pollard said it was just a matter of giving him the support.
”Obviously he didn’t get as many runs as we wanted in the South Africa series and the series against Sri Lanka but throughout the two series guys came and performed at different times, and him being a senior player we had a big conversation in the series against South Africa,” he noted.
“He stood up in the dressing room and spoke about the individuals and what we have to offer for West Indies cricket. And the guys were touched by it, at the end of the day he is an individual as well and no matter how much cricket you play you want that support.”
“And I said, you know what, the world is afraid of Chris Gayle when he raises his bat. At the end of the day as bowlers they are frightened and I will say it out publicly because we know how we feel when are on the opposite sides when he is batting and it’s just a matter just giving him some memories of what he has done over the years around the world and the joy he would have brought on our faces as youngsters now playing with him, and I think it sort of inspired him and that’s what we are about in that dressing room.”
Evin Lewis copped the man-of-the-match award in the final game and Pollard stated that he is growing and starting to realise the amount of talent he actually has and what he can do. “So it’s a matter of giving himself a chance and when he gets in no one can hit the ball as far. I think he missed out on a couple of tons and what’s pleasing to see is that the youngsters going out there and continue to think about the cricket and keep rotating the strike,” he said.
“There is a lot of noise on how we are going about and playing our cricket but at the end of the day nothing happens before its time, and its work in progress. In so many years all of us who play cricket around the world come together and it takes time to gel.”
The West Indies have been grouped among England, Australia, South Africa for the upcoming T20 world cup, but Pollard emphasizes that they play as a team it doesn’t matter who they are grouped with. “We have just played two of the opponents, we play as a team, we understand our game and who is going to do what, where and how, and it doesn’t matter what group we are in, if you want to be champions you have play against all the teams and win.”
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