As West Indies prepare to battle New Zealand, all-rounder Rovman Powell is confident of the Caribbean side’s chances of snatching a series win in the T20 format.
Powell kicked off the first press conference of the tour on Thursday where he disclosed his views ahead of the three-match series.
“To be honest I think this squad can turn it around. You know New Zealand hasn’t been an easy place not just for us, but other overseas teams to tour, but if you look on the strength and depth of the squad, I think it’s a pretty good one,” he stated.
In New Zealand, West Indies have played eight T20Is and are yet to come out with a win. However, as a build up to the T20 World Cup next year, Powell spoke about the team’s vision as they look to gain the momentum necessary to defend their title.
“The captain [Kieron Pollard] and coach [Phil Simmons] have stressed on us playing the brand of cricket that we want to play leading up to the World Cup and all the guys have bought into that brand of cricket and I think it will bear fruit,” he noted.
Despite the absence of key all-rounders in Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell, the 27-year-old posited that the side was filled with match-winners, most of whom could use the opportunity to push for World Cup spots.
He argued, “If you should look at the depth of the team I think it is a very strong team as in regards to power hitting, [even] with those guys missing but what that does is it provides an opportunity for us as younger players just before the World Cup and just before the start of cricket 2021 to put our best foot forward and put our performance in place and hopefully that will carry us in good stead.”
On a personal note, Powell explained the series holds a special significance for him, having come off of a poor Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
“Definitely it’s an important tour not just for West Indies but me, you mentioned not scoring a lot of runs in the CPL but that is behind me it was a difficult competition for me but brighter things now. I have three T20Is in front of me and hopefully, I could put my best foot forward with quality training sessions leading up to the games,” he highlighted.
Powell revealed that while he considers himself a batting all-rounder, he wants to contribute more with the ball and is working on becoming faster.
He stated, “I think I am a batting all-rounder. I think for the last couple of years my bowling has fallen off and I think it’s something I have to sit down and think about and it’s just for me now to continue working on my bowling and continue to strengthen all three aspects of my cricket…To get that extra X factor I think I have to bowl a little bit faster.
Looking at the all-rounders around the world, around the Caribbean they tend to bowl a bit faster than I am, you know the slower ball as a variation will always come, but over the years I have to come up and develop ways of bowling a little bit faster and I think that would give me a little cutting edge as it relates to international cricket and bowling.”
West Indies will face New Zealand in three T20Is from November 27, 29 and 30 before playing two Tests from December 3-7 and 10-15.
T20 squad: Kieron Pollard (captain), Fabian Allen, Romario Shepherd, Sheldon Cottrell, Andre Fletcher, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Rovman Powell, Keemo Paul, Nicholas Pooran, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr, Kesrick Williams.
