The trophy will mean the world for us: Pollard

Kieron Pollard had a largely quiet ICC World Twenty20 2012 before exploding against Australia in the semi-final. A repeat performance with the bat would certainly go down well with the West Indies, but Pollard is focussing more on the team’s plans ahead of the big final against Sri Lanka.

“I think we need to win key moments, know their weaknesses and understand the strategies, changing the bowlers and stuff like that,” said Pollard. “I think it’s important we actually win those key moments. We will have to target the right bowlers and go after them, and make sure we do the basics right.”

Pollard is happy with the way he, and his team, played against Australia but is not willing to celebrate too much. “Obviously, we had a very good match against Australia, but we still need to put some bits and pieces together and hopefully if we can put most of the pieces together, we will come out on top in the final too,” observed Pollard.

Talking about his batting, Pollard said, “It’s about backing yourself and trying to hit in your areas. Obviously, at the end of the day, in cricket, if the ball is short, you go back and if it is up, you come forward and try to play each ball on its merit and stuff like that.”

The West Indies, in a change from recent tradition, entered the tournament as favourites. “Yes, commentators label us as favourites, but I actually don’t think they believed that we had it in us to go there and win,” said Pollard. “But deep down, we knew that we had the team to do it and we just needed to put things together. Obviously, it has been a tough route for us but we have been able to overcome the obstacles and hurdles and now we are here, in the final.”

And, much like other members of the West Indian team, Pollard talked about how much the win, if it happens, will mean to the West Indians. “Obviously, it is going to mean a lot, it’s going to mean the world. This hasn’t happened since 1979,” said Pollard. “This is my sixth World Cup including the Under 19s, and I think it should work out just fine. Chris (Gayle) has been around for 10-12 years. Marlon (Samuels) and (Dwayne) Bravo have been around … They have the experience of winning the Champions Trophy, they know the taste of success. But once we can pull this off, it is going to be fantastic. It is going to be great.”