National all-rounder Steven Jacobs said he’s looking to dominate and prove a point once selected in the 14-man team to represent his county Demerara in next week’s Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) 50-overs-a-side Inter-county tournament.
“Once selected in the final 14 to represent Demerara, I have to prove a point to myself that I still have it. I know have it in me and I will be looking to dominate with both bat and ball,” said the right-hander who spoke with Stabroek Sports yesterday as he shared his plans for the upcoming tournaments.
The 25-year-old pointed out that his stint as Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) skipper during last season was tough but it was used a learning process. “Captaining CCC was a great experience. It was a different environment. I had to try and fit in even though I played with most of the guys at University of the West Indies (UWI). Despite it being a difficult season for me,
it helped me a lot in my career.”
Speaking on the topic of form, the ex-West Indies Under-19 Captain admitted that he has indeed been below his usual high standards and thus will be seeking to up his game.
“2013 was a decent year with the bat and ball for me, 2014 was a struggle. I didn’t bowl as much I wanted to in order to focus on my batting. Currently the form for me is not where I want it to be. I have to dominate if given the chance to play in the team,” Jacobs declared.
Responding to the critics who lately deemed him a bowler or a bowling all-rounder due to his impact with the ball more than the bat, Jacobs stated:” I believe as a professional in sports in the public eye there will be lots of thoughts. I see myself as an all-rounder I’m bowling more than I’m batting currently but if they (the public) want to call me a bowler so be it, but I’m an all-rounder and I’m looking to bat higher and make runs during the inter-county tournament.”
A decent performer in the 20/20 format overs the years locally and regionally, fresh off the 2014 Limacol Caribbean Premier League (LCPL), the Malteenoes Cricket Club player said that the shorter format was a good way to improve one’s game as against diminishing it. “T20 is exciting format and players as professional need to adapt to any format of cricket. I bowl more than I bat but I don’t think it deterred my game in any way,” he said.
With the senior inter-county tournament around the corner, Jacobs simply yet boldly reiterated that he is merely seeking to prove his point and excel in both departments if selected in order to guide his county to a title win.
The Amazon Warriors all-rounder said that while he has one eye on making the West Indies side he intends on taking his cricket one step at a time. “Everybody wants to play for the West Indies. I really want to play for the West Indies. However playing for West Indies is so far ahead there is so much to do in order to get to that level so right now my focus is to take it one game at a time and play for Guyana.”
