Tridents ready for home games

Kieron Pollard and AB de Villiers of the Barbados Tridents are in high spirits about playing at home at the Kensington Oval in the Caribbean Premier League Hero T20 2016. The team will be playing its next four matches in Barbados and will be looking to secure wins in all of them.

 

Pollard and de Villiers spoke to the media yesterday about today's upcoming match against the Jamaica Tallawahs. 

 

Pollard, who is the captain of the Tridents, was upbeat about the readiness of the team and said that the team is excited to be playing at Kensington in front of the home crowd. He pointed out that the team is well rested and in good shape after a couple days of practice, and is ready to take on this stretch of home matches.

 

De Villiers also said that Kensington is one of his favourite grounds to play on in the Caribbean. He emphasised that he could not have chosen a better team to play with and that the Tridents have taken good care of him. De Villiers added that he is ready to take on the Tallawahs and put some more runs under his belt.

 

When asked whether there would be any change in the strategy for the home matches, Pollard said the boys want to play well in front of the home crowd, but the plan remains the same, which is to play good cricket with the confidence of having a good track record at home. 

 

In response to the question of how they would handle the threat of Chris Gayle, Pollard stated that the Tridents would try to knock him off early as Gayle can present problems for which ever team he plays against. He stated that it comes down to executing what they need to and working as a team. 

 

De Villiers, who has played with Gayle in the Indian Premier League T20 tournament for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, stated that though Gayle has weaknesses, he still can fire at any time. He was quick to reassure the media and the Barbadian public that the Tridents are talented enough to see Gayle off and, if not, gather wickets from about him.

 

Pollard has not bowled for the tournament and the question was asked as to why, and if he has a reoccurring injury. In response, Pollard stated that he always has few small injuries,  but so far the team has not needed him to take up the ball and that is the sole reason for his absence with the ball. He also lauded the efforts of his bowlers so far in the competition, adding that pace is not necessarily the answer at Kensington since spin has had just as much success.

 

Pollard is encouraging the Bajan spectators to come out, like they always do, and show their support for the team.  

 

He also stated that he is a Caribbean man and that hopefully some of the borders can be broken down between the islands. 

 

‘Best side chosen’

Asked to account for the lack of Bajans playing in the Tridents side, Pollard made the point that all around the world in T20 franchise cricket, the best team is put forward on any given day depending on the opposition faced. He asserted that in franchise cricket the best team must play, no matter the island they represent. 

 

De Villiers chimed in to say that playing with the Tridents has been an excellent experience and that he has connected with some the guys. He stated that he is having fun and despite playing against the West Indies team in the Tri-Nation tournament, whoever else he plays for his plan is to have an enjoyable experience. (AS)