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The story about Kieron Pollard’s recently signed consultancy contract has not got a lot of traction in the media. But if Bobby is right, it could make a big difference to the outcome of this year’s World Cup.
Twelve years ago in 2011, Pollard was offered a retainer contract by the West Indies Board. The allrounder, his star in the ascendancy, thought long and hard about it before responding politely. Thanks but no thanks.
And he subsequently signed on the dotted line for multiple franchises the cricketing world over. West Indies’ loss was white ball cricket’s gain.
Last month, the 36-year-old Pollard was offered a contract by the English Cricket Board to serve as a consultant on their bowling staff during the upcoming World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA.
The allrounder, his playing days largely behind him, thought about it for full 30 minutes before responding politely. Why, thanks much. I’d be delighted to serve you.
And he signed on the dotted line for the ECB. The biggest winner this time around will not be white ball cricket; of that, we can be very sure.
But will West Indies’ loss again be England’s gain? I think we shall simply have to wait and see.
It’s early days yet but Bobby thinks he knows the answer. Early Friday morning, he broached the subject as we set out briskly for the Eddie Hart Savannah.
Bobby: W-e let another one slip through our fingers; CWI let another one slip through their fingers…
Me: Another one? What yuh mean?
Bobby: Same old story, bro, same old story. Devon Malcolm, Phil DeFreitas, Chris Lewis, Gladstone Small, Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer, Roland Butcher. Even George Headley’s son, whose name I don’t remember…
Archer, a Barbadian, moved to England at age 20.
Me: Ron. Yuh mean people who born in the Caribbean and play Test cricket fuh England? What dat have to do with anything? Pollard not going to be playing fuh England, yuh know?
Bobby: Not on the field! You read the story?
Me: Of course! They signed him to provide pertinent information about the grounds in the region, which he knows as well as anyone. I think that’s almost the exact words the story used. Should we bat or bowl when we win the toss? Where does the breeze come from here in stadium X? Is there a dew problem in the second innings? Etc, etc.
(Copyright Getty Images)
Bobby: Yeah, right! That’s all he will provide, pertinent information about the grounds in the region. You believe that? Well, bro, I have a piece ah land in Nariva to sell yuh…
Me: What yuh mean? Didn’t you read the story?
Bobby: I did. But, unlike you, I didn’t just read the story; I also read between the lines! Provide local knowledge to the England squad? Ahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Local knowledge, my foot! They could pick up any member of the local ground staff and get the same information for the price of a bottle of rum!
Photo: Sean Morrison/ Wired868
Tell me, you really expect them to tell the world why they want Pollard on their bowling staff? A serial winner in Twenty20 cricket and a man who has played more T20 matches than anyone else? I think that is an exact quote from the story I read. Or close.
Me: Well, then, buss the mark! Tell me, tell the world the truth. What is the real reason for hiring Polly?
Bobby: It’s in the story, yuh know. But where you didn’t look, between the lines! Let me see if I could remember what it says.
Jos Buttler played club cricket with Pollard in England and then played franchise cricket with him for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. He said Pollard and the others West Indians used to say things like: ‘Eight overs to go. If we could hit five or six sixes, we win.’
He explained that that was very different from the way he and his England teammates used to approach the game and it changed his attitude and his approach. Especially in T20 cricket.
Me: But that is what Bazball is about. Or was about, no?
At right is West Indies bowler Andre Russell.
Photo: Getty Images
Bobby: Yuh asking answers. When last you see England playing Bazball? When West Indies beat them in both the T20s and the ODI series last year? In the World Cup? When last they look like the team that blow everybody outta the water for four or five years?
You really think is a accident that Pollard had a long association with Baz in TKR and in the CPL?
Me: Hmmm… Yuh might be on to something. I don’t know what happened to [Brendon] McCullum and England but I know the side we saw in the World Cup didn’t look anything like the side McCullum coached. Not until it was much too late.
So that is an interesting theory? You figure the Pollard contract is really a roundabout way of bringing Bazball back to the white ball side?
Bobby: Yes. For sure. Not Baz body but Baz brains!
Me: I don’t remember the name of the person who wrote the story. I do remember, though, how the story ended. Do you?
Bobby: How could I not? The mind games? That is what made me certain that all England really want to do is pick Pollard’s brain.
(via CWI Media)
The story said they hope his knowledge will give them “an edge over their World Cup rivals”, including the West Indies. And it notes that West Indies have to be considered one of the favourites to win the title because they have beaten India, South Africa and England in their last few outings.
Me: West Indies favourites to win a third T20 World Cup title? Your view?
Bobby: You taking that seriously? Is mind games, I tell you. Chasing people brain. Like saying, ‘West Indies are a six-hitting team’.
Me: Yeah. Carlos Brathwaite, remember the name! Marlon Samuel? Who is he? What he do? (Sarcastic tone)
West Indies won by four wickets.
Bobby: Johnson Charles in contention for a place? Andre Russell didn’t break down in the series against England so he will be in contention too? Roston Chase good enough to make both squads but not good enough to make either side? You think Desmond Haynes going to pick any Trini contender if he could find a Bajan half as good?
I think WI would have a very good chance if CWI could convince England to make a swap. Take Haynes as their selector and give us Pollard as our consultant.
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