Kieron Pollard points to opportunity in COVID-19-forced break

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

West Indies white-ball captain Kieron Pollard says players should use the break from competition, prompted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, to reflect on their careers and how they can do better.

While acknowledging the health, economic, and other implications of the spread of the virus, which has reached the Caribbean and prompted the cancellation and postponement of several sporting events, Pollard pointed out the silver lining in the situation for cricketers.

“It is a good time for introspection, a good time for reflection, a good time to look at where you are as an individual in your career and what you want to achieve going forward,” he said on I955 FM’s ISports radio show here on Thursday.

“You have to take this time in order to do that and also keep yourself in good physical shape, and mentally as well, because when the bell rings and they say ‘ok, everything is back to normal and we need to go on tour’, it might not be enough time to be prepared, but you as an individual have to be prepared mentally in order for you to try to perform at your best.”

30-DAY DELAY

Cricket West Indies (CWI) recently announced that given the confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the region, the season has been delayed for 30 days. The suspension took effect on Monday.

The decision affected the final two rounds of the West Indies Championship, the Women’s CMI Super 50 Cup in Guyana, and two youth tournaments – the Regional Under- 15 Boy’s Championship in Antigua and the Regional Under-19 Girls’ Championship in Trinidad.

On Friday, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also announced that the professional cricket season would not start before May 28 – two months later than scheduled – which would affect the West Indies planned tour of England.

The Caribbean men were to play a three-Test series from June 4, following warm-up matches against England Lions and Worcestershire on May 22 and 28, respectively.