Pollard calls for better showing: WI fall to Black Caps
Following Monday night’s rained-off third and final T20 International, West Indies went down 0-2 to New Zealand in a series for the second time in succession, leaving captain Kieron Pollard displeased at his team's performances. On this trip, the visitors lost a close first contest by five wickets, but were outplayed in the second match where they came up short by 72 runs.
On the tour of 2017-2018 West Indies also lost 0-2 with one match being washed out. According to the skipper the reigning ICC T20 World Cup champions have work to do as they continue to countdown towards defending their title in just under a year. The ICC is slated to stage the eighth edition of the global event in late 2021 in India.
Asked about the results Pollard replied: “Obviously disappointed. As a unit, didn’t expect to be outplayed this badly. Onus was on us to compete and win the series. But hopefully the guys in the Test series can get something out of the Test series." He added: “The conditions are totally different to where we come from. We didn’t have enough time to practice, to get middle wicket practice, like that, which is why it’s been hard to win in New Zealand.”
The hard-hitting all-rounder spoke after the final match was called off with just 2.2 overs bowled in the West Indies innings. He led the way in the batting this series with a career-best 75 not out (eight sixes and four fours) in the first match which rescued and revived the innings after they slipped from 58-0 to 59-5 in space of 12 balls.
In the second match he again topscored with 28 which included four more sixes, as West Indies were asked to chase a massive victory target of 239 off 20 overs at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. Pollard was one of five batsman two score 20 or more but none reached 30.
It was a bit of deja vu as back in 2018, West Indies were set another huge target after New Zealand made 243-5 off their 20 overs at the same venue.
Pollard, who took over as West Indies white-ball captain in October 2019, was brutally frank in his assessment and called for a much better showing on the next occasion.
“Fielding is an attitude. That’s the only time it’s 11 versus 2 on the park. And if you don’t show the intent to want to do it, it’s going to be difficult. So as individuals, we have to look in the mirror,” he said. “We don’t want to feel like laughing stocks in the dressing room. We have an opportunity now to think about it and come back. Next year is very crucial with the World Cup coming up. So if players don’t show that attitude, they may get the boot.”
Following the conclusion of the T20 Internationals the two teams now travel to Hamilton for the first Test at Seddon Park, starting on Thursday (Wednesday 6pm Eastern Caribbean/5pm Jamaica Time).