BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – West Indies off-spinner Ashley Nurse says he is looking to get back to his best for this year’s Caribbean Premier League and believes Barbados Tridents has what it takes to win the competition again.
The 26-year-old, a fixture in the Tridents lineup since the inaugural CPL three years ago, had a quiet season by his standards even though the Bridgetown-based franchise went on to capture the title.
However, with the new season fast approaching, Nurse said he was eyeing top performances with both bat and ball to ensure the Tridents excelled.
“Last year I had a quiet CPL. I was one of the breakthrough players in the first edition so this year I just want to be as consistent as possible and get back to where I was in the first tournament, contributing as much as I can to help Tridents to retain the CPL title,” Nurse said.
“Also, every time I come to the crease, I believe I can get the job done with the bat. I don’t just pigeon-hole myself as just a bowler, I believe that I am an all-rounder, so when I get the opportunity with the bat, I just try to contribute as many runs as I can.”
Nurse said the key to the Tridents’ success last season had been down to team spirit, noting there were crucial times when the squad was forced to rally around each other.
Tridents opened with a loss to Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel but then hit back to win three straight before slumping to lose two of their next three fixtures.
In danger of missing out on the playoffs, the squad pulled together to pull off two emphatic victories, crushing Red Steel and 2013 champions Jamaica Tallawahs, to book a spot in the final.
“The Tridents always thrive on team work – the idea of one team and togetherness – and after losing the first couple of games, we really came together and wrapped ourselves around each other,” the Barbados player explained.
“As the saying goes, a chain is as strong as its weakest link. Everyone came together in one team effort and you would realise we beat three teams on the trot to lift the cup. We thrive on being a team so teamwork is always the key in the Tridents set-up.”
