The rescheduled 2nd One Day International (ODI) between the West Indies and Ireland gave the Irish a chance to get back into the three-match series, which they trailed one-nil, following a 24-run defeat on Saturday. And in an effort to do just that, the visitors won the toss and inserted Pollard’s men.
West Indies’ struggles in the powerplay continued, as the Caribbean side was limited to just 3.90 rpo inside the first 10 overs while losing the wicket of Shai Hope. And there would be no injection of momentum where the West Indian innings was concerned; and from that slip, the West Indies slid—losing the next 6 wickets for 105 runs.
West Indies captain, Kieron Pollard spoke after the game:
“As I said when we won the first game, throughout the tournament, the toss is going to be a massive factor. Obviously, there is a lot of moisture here, with a lot of grass on the track. So, as I said before: our techniques will be tested. And two games out of two, we have found ourselves [three or four] wickets down inside the first 20 overs."
In a recent interview with Cricnation592’s Cricket Show, West Indies batsman, Shimron Hetmyer shared his desire to return to Test match cricket.
“For the past few years, I wasn’t a part of red-ball cricket, so I’m just trying to get back [into the team,” he said.
The Guyanese, who last featured in a Test match for the West Indies back in 2019, also revealed a change in approach as he eyes success this time around.
“As it is, I’m just trying to do as much running [between the wickets] as I possibly can. [I am] trying to accumulate [runs] and stay at the crease as long as possible.”
WEST INDIES white-ball skipper, Kieron Pollard, has pointed to fitness as a critical part of professionalism and says players need to “pride themselves” on keeping pace with the demands of international cricket.
Fitness standards have emerged as one of the major talking points in the selection of West Indies squads recently, with key players being overlooked after failing to meet Cricket West Indies’ requirements.
Left-hander Shimron Hetmyer, the Caribbean side’s leading batsman at last year’s Twenty20 World Cup, was ruled out of this month’s series against Ireland and England after failing to meet CWI’s fitness standards.
“This is an individual thing. As an individual and a professional, you’re supposed to pride yourself on being fit, pride yourself on performance, and pride yourself on doing what is necessary for the team, and when these things tend to happen, I’m sure it doesn’t bode well with yourself,” Pollard said.
Legendary West Indies captain Clive Lloyd was knighted by the British Royal Federation, on Wednesday, after the ceremony was previously postponed due to Covid-19.
Lloyd the former two-time World Cup-winning captain was honoured with a CBEs (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to the sport of cricket.
The Guyana-born batsman played for the English County cricket club of Lancashire between 1968 until 1986. During that time the team won two One-Day League titles in 1969 and 1970 and four Friends Provident Trophy titles between 1970 and 1975.
Former West Indies Women’s head coach, Vasbert Drakes, has been appointed head coach of Barbados Pride for the upcoming Regional Four-Day Championship in February.
The 52-year-old former Test all-rounder replaces Emerson Trotman who spearheaded Pride’s capture of the 2019-20 first class title – the last championship to be staged since the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Dexter Toppin, a former Barbados seamer, led Pride during last year’s Super50 when the perennial champions lost four of their five matches to finish one from bottom of the six-team table in Antigua.
Drakes, who played 12 Tests and 34 One-Day Internationals between 1995 and 2004, spent two years in charge of West Indies Women after replacing Sherwin Campbell in 2015.
