Kieron Pollard - the Annihilator to watch out for in the ICC World T20 - Part 2 - Opinion
Continued from Part 1...
His brutal century at Gros Islet against Australia in early 2012 stands out as one of his best performances. The West Indies were 5 for 146 at one stage, and in danger of being completely outplayed by a buoyant Australian outfit.
When all seemed lost, Pollard unleashed an array of breathtaking shots, which were swashbuckling in nature. He deposited 8 sixes in his brutal 102, and managed to beat down bowlers of the calibre of Brett Lee, with ease. The West Indies posted 294 in that all important ODI, and eventually managed to win the game thanks to Pollard’s efforts. Had he failed, the West Indies would have lost the series, and in the process would not have much to wallow about.
The danger he poses is pretty obvious. Watching Pollard bat is a disenchanting experience, where his relaxed stance at the crease can be contrasted with the brutality with which he hits the ball. A flick over mid wicket for six comes as naturally to him as a cover drive on the off side. He seems to be unflustered while going on a rampage, and like Chris Gayle, stays calm and composed at the crease. A delivery in Pollard’s zone by an opposition bowler could easily disappear in a blink of an eye and with a click of the wrists. If Chris Gayle has gained notoriety for demoralizing the opposition, then it is safe to say that Pollard simply scares the socks out of them, and his talent certainly lives up to that claim.
The ICC World T20 fiesta in Sri Lanka is bound to bring a side like the West Indies into perspective. They have had a good run in ODI cricket of late, yet in the shortest format, they have gained notoriety for simply manhandling their oppositions and pulling off astonishing victories. Pollard is one of their main weapons. His stats aren’t too overwhelming however, as an average of just 20.68 and a highest score of just 63*, is miles behind the mighty Chris Gayle. Yet the icing on the cake is the strike rate of nearly 150, which makes him a destructive player. He also has the ability to influence outcomes of the game single handedly. Just when the opposition manages to stifle the run flow, Pollard begins his counter-strike, and ensures the smooth flow of runs.
The stadiums in Sri Lanka would thus be in for plenty of blitzes from an array of top quality batsmen, which includes Pollard. Players such as Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum, Tillakaratne Dilshan and AB de Villiers are bound to light up stadiums in Colombo, Hambantota and Kandy. A similar display could come from Pollard’s bat as well, who can strike the ball as hard as anyone. His skill as a fielder would also be a plus point for the West Indies, as they enter the tournament brewing with confidence.
As a player, the man from Trinidad could prove to be the dark horse in terms of individual performances, which he might put in the tournament which starts in September.
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