CAVE HILL, Barbados, CMC- Recalled West Indies opening batsman Devon Smith says he is determined to build on his success in this year’s regional first class season when he takes to the crease in next month’s ICC Champions Trophy in England. Smith is a member of a 15-man Windies squad continuing preparations in Barbados this week in a bid to capture the Champions Trophy title for the second time. The left-handed opener who was away from the international stage for three years was recalled after heavy scoring in the Regional Four Day and Super 50 tournaments.
“This year should be my year, especially the way I started in the four-day tournament and the Super 50. I’m concentrating on converting my good starts into big scores. Before I used to get good starts and then lose my wicket. This year I worked hard at getting in and staying in and carry on to big centuries,” Smith said. “For West Indies I have not been consistent enough. I’ve had some good innings, but it’s the consistency that has led me down. I’ll be looking to string scores together and contribute in a major way to the team’s success.” The Grenadian cricketer was the leading batsman in both competitions with 700 runs at an average of 70 in the first-class championship. He was equally impressive in the 50-over format with 348 runs at 58 runs per innings. “I feel very confident seeing that I did really well in the four-day and the one-day tournaments and I just have to go out there and play my game and be the Devon Smith I know I can be,” said the 31-year-old Smith. “I will look to be positive and confident at the crease and make this golden opportunity count in this tournament”. West Indies team will depart from Barbados on Saturday and have another camp in Cardiff, Wales from May 25 to June 2 as they try to get acclimatised to the foreign conditions. Smith’s highest score in ODIs came during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 when he made a career-best 107 against Ireland at Mohali. During that tournament he was the highest run-scorer for the West Indies. “The ball will swing especially at this stage of the season in England,” said Smith. “So you have to make sure you pick up the line early and play the ball as late as possible, look to get in, and make some big runs”. The West Indies team has been drawn in Group B alongside India, Pakistan and South Africa. They open against Pakistan on June 7 at the Oval and return to the famous venue on June 11 to take on India.
The final preliminary match will be against the Proteas on June 14 in Cardiff.
