April 16, 2021, 9:37 a.m.
West Indies T20 skipper took T20 hitting to new heights in 2020. He scored 59 sixes across his matches at a rate of one every 5.5 balls. His strike rate for the year was 199 and he averaged 53
Kieron Pollard feels elated and said it is a “fantastic achievement” being named by Wisden Cricket Almanack as the Leading T20 Cricketer in the World, and says he is hoping to create more history in the coming year. Cricket’s most authoritative and respected publication noted that the West Indies white-ball captain distinguished himself by helping the Trinbago Knight Riders juggernaut to CPL glory – winning all 12 matches in the tournament last year. He then was part of the Mumbai Indians powerhouse which won the IPL title.
“2020 has not been great for all of us, being hit by a COVID-19 pandemic. We did not expect something like this but we were able to use this time wisely, spend time with family, reflect and think about what we want to do,” Pollard said.
“I got the opportunity to play some cricket as well and it has worked. Being able to be named T20 Player of the Year I think was a fantastic achievement in what would’ve transpired.”
Pollard has emerged as one of the world’s leading T20 cricketers over the last decade, becoming renowned for his sensational power-hitting, brilliant fielding and seam bowling. He sits second on the all-time list of run-scorers with 10 641 runs, only behind Chris Gayle with 13 760, and has taken 293 wickets. His tremendous achievements led to him being named last year on the International Cricket Council’s Team-of-the-Decade.
“Winning CPL, 12 games on the trot without losing a game was fantastic, winning the IPL for a fifth time – I think we continued to break records and personally continued to score runs,” said Pollard. “I just want to continue to entertain you fans, entertain my family, entertain my friends and at the end of the day, just try to do what God has given me talent to do, be it what format.”
He added:
“Being named T20 Player of the Year [for] 2020 and also being named in the T20 Team of the Decade. These are fantastic small, small achievements.”
Pollard said he was also pleased with his efforts this year, leading West Indies to a 2-1 win over Sri Lanka in the CG Insurance T20 series and 3-0 in the CG Insurance ODI series, while becoming the first West Indies to hit six sixes in an over on the international stage.
“We look forward to 2021 which has started pretty decently as well, joining some esteemed company in hitting six sixes in an over in international cricket, and I look forward to continuing that sort of form and continuing to perform.”
-CWI
