(Cricket News) England is set to bring on board former West Indian cricketer Kieron Pollard as a consultant coach for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA, scheduled for June. As defending champions aiming to secure another title, England is keen on retaining the success they achieved in 2022, with Pollard expected to fill a role similar to the one played by former Australian batsman Mike Hussey during the 2022 T20 World Cup victory.
Pollard’s appointment is strategic, given his intimate knowledge of the playing conditions in the West Indies. The Trinidadian cricketer is anticipated to assist England in assessing the pitches during the T20 World Cup, commencing on June 4. The report also mentions Pollard being spotted at a hotel in Trinidad during England’s final two T20Is against the West Indies in a recent five-match series, which England narrowly lost 3-2. This comes on the heels of their subpar performance in the 50-over World Cup earlier in the year in India.
Renowned for his prowess as one of the most formidable T20 batters, Pollard has earned a stellar reputation, particularly during his tenure with the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Having played 189 IPL games for Mumbai, he boasts 2316 runs at a strike rate of 147.32 and has contributed significantly with 69 wickets. Despite retiring from the IPL, Pollard remains associated with the Mumbai Indians as a batting coach and continues to actively participate as a player in various franchise leagues worldwide.
England’s white-ball skipper, Jos Buttler, who was a part of the Mumbai Indians alongside Pollard in the 2016-17 seasons and played with him in Somerset during the 2010-11 seasons, has previously acknowledged the influence of West Indian players in shaping his T20 approach. Buttler has noted, “I heard a few guys talk about it like, ‘There’s eight overs left; if we hit five sixes in that time, we’ll win the game.’ It’s just a different way of thinking.”
