Shai Hope says he plans to fully embrace his role as the teams principal run-scorer and gloveman, along with his new responsibilities as captain, after carving out a 14th One-Day International hundred to help propel West Indies to a 48-run win over South Africa in Saturdays opening ODI here.
The 29-year-old was recently appointed to replace Nicholas Pooran at the head of the ODI squad and celebrated the honour in style with a superb unbeaten 128 at Buffalo Park, in his first innings since becoming captain.
Hope is the Caribbean sides marquee batsman with an average of 50 from 105 ODIs and also keeps wicket, a combination of roles which the player admitted could be tiring at times.
It is [a lot of responsibility], but Im definitely going to take it on full speed. Its just about giving my all to the team and if that means I have to bat all 50 overs and then keep, then thats exactly what Ill do, said Hope, who arrived at the crease in the 10th over and batted until the end of the 50 overs, before donning the gloves for the 42.4 overs of the South Africa reply.
Im getting support from all ends so its just one of those things where I need to fit into the role. Ive got support from the guys on the field and off the field. Ive just to keep embracing that responsibility and when the time comes to shine, Ill try to do so.
He added, I actually forgot how difficult a 50-over game was. I havent played since I think it was August [New Zealand in the Caribbean].
It felt good. Its been a while since Ive played ODI cricket
so it was just nice to get some runs under my belt and it contributed to a team win, Hope explained.
I thought it was a difficult pitch to start on. I think batsmen coming in found it challenging but we got a big score in the end. I think as soon as you get in youve got to go big.
You have to play the situation. There were some periods in the game where I had to buckle down, make sure they didnt make any more inroads. But for us, soaking up that pressure was key, especially in the middle there we lost Pooran.
So I thought that I played the situation pretty well and credit must go to the batting partners as well to make it easier for me to finish the innings.
Despite the win, Hope was not short of praise for his opposite number Temba Bavuma, who struck a career-best 144 from 118 balls, to rattle West Indies.
An innings like that deserves to be a victorious innings, but it just so happened that we came out on top in the end, Hope said
Source: Jamaica-gleaner.com
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Prolific Hope talks about his new Responsibilities
2023-03-20 12:40:54
2023-03-20 12:46:31
Sounds like he has really matured!
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