No complacency against Ireland – Pollard

BRIDGETOWN, GUYANA (CMC): GUARDING AGAINST complacency will be the main priority for West Indies when they clash with minnows Ireland in the first-ever full One-Day International series between the two sides starting at Kensington Oval today.

West Indies have lost just one of 10 meetings with the Irish and having won their last three encounters by significant margins, enter the three-match rubber as heavy favourites. However, Ireland have been known for springing surprises and captain Kieron Pollard said his side would not be resting on their laurels, as they chased an important series result. “That’s one of the things we spoke about at the start [of preparation], the complacency no matter who we play against or where we play and the opposition,” Pollard said. “Again it’s an opportunity to showcase your talent, an opportunity for you to go out and give … yourself the opportunity to perform, or the people of the Caribbean or the selectors something to think about. You never know when it’s going to happen for you.

“So it doesn’t matter who you play against, you have to give that same sort of intensity and complacency is something we don’t want to accept in this camp. It has been spoken about quite a lot and it’s going to be spoken about throughout the entire series.

West Indies are coming off a 2-1 series defeat to the subcontinental powerhouses in the three-match series last month, and will view Ireland as a crucial opportunity to rebound.

EXTENDING MOMENTUM

After whitewashing Afghanistan in a three-match series last November, the Caribbean showed plenty of heart against the Indians and Pollard said extending that momentum would be important to efforts to mould the side into a winning unit.

West Indies field the same squad which faced India last month, minus Test captain and fast-bowling all-rounder Jason Holder who has been rested.

Their attack will be led by flamboyant left-arm speedster Sheldon Cottrell and is stacked with the likes of Test seamer Alzarri Joseph, fast-bowling allrounder Keemo Paul and rookie pacer Romario Shepherd.

The match is a day/night encounter which bowls off at 12:30 p.m. (Jamaica time).