England is considering bringing in ex-West Indies captain Kieron Pollard as a consultant coach for the 2024 T20 World Cup, set to take place in the Caribbean and the USA. Pollard, a former all-rounder, played a key role in West Indies’ 2012 tournament victory.
The decision is based on his potential to offer valuable insights into local conditions, coupled with his extensive experience in T20 cricket, as reported by The Telegraph.
The current T20 World Cup champions previously enlisted the services of Australian cricket legend Michael Hussey in a comparable capacity for the preceding tournament held in Australia. This strategic decision appeared to be effective.
Following a less-than-ideal performance in this year’s ODI World Cup, England is optimistic for improved outcomes in the upcoming T20 format matches next year.
Jos Buttler’s take on the West Indies’ mindset
Jos Buttler, who has been teammates with several West Indian players in various franchise leagues globally, expressed admiration for their mindset.
According to The Telegraph, here is his quote:
“I heard a few guys talk about it like, ‘There’s eight overs left, if we hit five sixes in that time, we’ll win the game’. It’s just a different way of thinking.”
The England captain faced a 3-2 series defeat against West Indies in a recent 5-match T20I series. Buttler discussed the loss, stating that it provided his team valuable insights into the playing conditions.
“We all wanted to win the series and it’s hard to say that when you’ve lost, but I think we’ve found out some good things. Some players have stood up and done really well.”
“We’ve obviously had five games out here in the Caribbean and had a really good look at what conditions will be like for the World Cup only six months away. So yeah, it’s been a good series.”
England’s disappointing showing in the ODI World Cup raises questions about their competence on pitches with grip. The effectiveness of Kieron Pollard’s insights remains to be seen.
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