Defending champions England have signed former West Indies all-rounder for coaching duties to regain glory at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. On 24th December, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that former Caribbean veteran Kieron Pollard will be the assistant coach of England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in West Indies and USA.
Pollard has played cricket in various leagues around the world, accumulating an experience of over 600 games. For West Indies, the 36-year-old has scored 1569 runs in 101 T20I matches at a strike rate of 135.14. Additionally, he has taken 42 international wickets in the shorter format. He was a part of the West Indies squad that won the T20 World Cup in 2012.
Can Pollard’s Aggressive Coaching Spark England’s Revival?
It is the first coaching role in International Cricket for Pollard. The 36-year-old retired from all formats of the game in April 2022. The former Windies star already serves as a batting coach of the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He took charge in the 2023 edition of the IPL.
The selection of Kieron Pollard as an assistant coach is due to the expertise that he brings in the T20 format. The big West Indian has played most of his cricket in the Caribbean. Pollard is one of the most successful captains in the CPL, where he won two championships with Trinbago Knight Riders. England played West Indies in a 5 match T20 series recently in the Caribbean that the hosts won 3-2.
The series was a record-breaking series where both teams smashed sixes for fun. Both teams collectively hit 120 sixes in five matches, which is the highest number of sixes in any T20I series.
England have been out of form in T20i’s since their world cup triumph in 2022. After becoming world champions England failed to win a bilateral T20I series, which includes a series against Bangladesh (3-0) and West Indies(3-2). The English team only managed a draw against New Zealand (2-2).
Their current T20I form is worrisome for the defending champions but they are preparing to roll for the next edition as they sign the local all round veteran Pollard to guide them reclaim glory in the shortest format.
Read More: Dean Elgar 🇿🇦 to Bid Farewell to Test Cricket After India Series
