Lara weighs in on Windies talent
WEST INDIES (WI) batting legend, Brian Lara, said Antiguan bowler Alzarri Joseph, Trinidadian Nicholas Pooran and Barbadian Shai Hope are three young regional talents that excite him.
However, he thinks Guyanese batting star Shimron Hetmyer has personal challenges he must overcome in order to make that next step, and believes the 23-year-old should use Indian captain Virat Kohli, as an example.
Hetmyer was recently dropped from the West Indies squad after he was not up to the required fitness levels, and Lara says he must face this challenge and become an even better cricketer.
In an interview with Cricinfo, Lara, who named India’s KL Rahul as his favourite player, singled out Hetmyer, Pooran and Hope.
“I like Nicholas Pooran, he’s settling down and understanding his responsibilities more now. Shai Hope could play a part in the T20 World Cup, being that solid guy with a great technique that can hold the innings together. Those are the three players I’m really looking forward to seeing. Alzarri Joseph is someone who I look at and say ‘this guy has got potential, he’s a wickettaker’. He is someone who I’d like to see do well,” said Lara.
However, he said every cricketer has their own struggle and Hetmyer must overcome his issues with fitness and show his full potential.
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
“People have challenges in different ways and Hetmyer, obviously, is a very talented cricketer, someone who plays all forms of the game for the West Indies. If he is unfit, he has to see it as a personal challenge. Fitness levels are so very important. So if fitness is his problem, I would like to see him face that challenge himself, and he’ll be a much better cricketer.
“You’ve seen Virat Kohli, and he actually says that this (hard training) is the reason [why he’s performing well now]. That is an example for Hetmyer,” Lara added.
Lara also thinks WI captain Keiron Pollard has the respect and support of the team to get the best out of the players. However, he believes Darren
Bravo needs to rediscover his confidence to be a force to reckon with again.
“Darren Bravo started his career with great potential, everyone in the West Indies was looking to see him blossom into one of our greats. [He] fell a little backwards, but I still believe he has what it takes. He’s struggling a little bit in terms of his confidence. He needs to get back that confidence, that borderline arrogance that you need as a batsman against all these tough bowlers around the world,” he said
“Kieron Pollard has been around for quite some time. He’s played a lot of franchise cricket around the world and the experience he has gained under different captains and by captaining teams, he brings a lot of experience. Everyone respects him, which is important, and he has a very good head on his shoulder. I expect him to do very well for West Indies and I expect everyone to rally. A captain is as good as his team, and, if he has support from his team, I think he’s going to get the best out of them,” Lara added.