West Indies will face England from today in five T20Is and skipper Kieron Pollard wants his side to improve in all departments.
During a press conference prior to today’s match, the all-rounder, though critical of the batting, said he felt all round improvements were needed.
“For us, we have to execute on all three facets of the game, our cricket overall we need to improve how we play and that’s in all departments, batting, bowling and fielding,” said Pollard.
Though extremely critical of the batting department which has been the team’s Achilles heel over the years, Pollard said he took solace in knowing that a lot of the new faces want to make a name for themselves.
“Batting has definitely been a problem for us but the good thing is we have some new faces in the group again, guys sort of making a name for themselves in the international scene and in world cricket,” he said.
Pollard suggested that it was basically starting from scratch following a woeful T20 World Cup and series losses against Australia, South Africa and most recently Ireland in the 50-over format. Their last five T20Is saw the maroon men coming up on the losing end.
Nevertheless, the captain highlighted that the team has been working on all aspects of their game.
“The mindset tends to change with the shorter format of the game but having said that, in terms of the way we practice and the conversations we had, it is geared towards match situations and conditions and what is needed at that time and technically the things we need to do and try to sort of envision some of the things the opposition will try and use against us and try and negate that when that time arises especially in pressure situations.
We went to the nets and emulate how we would love to play our game in different scenarios, we had a practice match, so we try to plan as well as possible,” he declared.
He suggested that the team needs to “Play the situation of the game, be able to analyze and assess and make the right decisions when that is needed.”
The Caribbean side will be boosted by the return of all-rounder Fabian Allen who will provide useful firepower in the lower order.
It will not be an easy road for the hosts when they step on the field in Bridgetown to mark the first international match in the country since Barbados turned a republic in November last year.
England, despite losing their last two T20Is, will reminisce on their success at the venue, winning four of their six matches as well as the T20 World Cup final in 2010.
