Chennai, Dec 12: Although West Indies lost the final ODI of the five-match series, Kieron Pollard hit a blistering 119 off 110 balls as the visitors chased a stiff target. The Trinidadian entertained the crowds with some big hits into the stands; his maiden ODI century included ten sixes and four boundaries and gave the Indians a few tense moment in the closing moments of the series.
In the post-match press conference Pollard spoke about his batting and reflected on the series.
Excerpts:
On being more consistent with his performance
I hope so. Thank god I got my maiden hundred, but deep down inside you still want your team to win. It didn’t happen for us today. We were outplayed by India once again. We just have to go back and reflect on what we have done. The first couple of games were pretty close. You’ve got to know how to get over that finishing line and finish off games when you have teams down and out. Hopefully we’ll have a couple of months off international cricket so that gives us enough time to go and reflect and come back strong for Australia.
On the significance of his hundred
[A] very significant hundred. I was working on a different type of approach. I had a couple of starts [in the earlier matches] but didn’t carry on [so I was] disappointed. I got a perfect opportunity today to bat long and it came off. As I said before, thank god. To be dropped on 99 [and still getting a ton is special]; one of the best fielders in India [Virat Kohli] dropped me. It is a stepping-stone for me and hopefully I can learn from that and bat with maturity when the time comes again.
On whether that elusive ODI hundred, and criticism he had faced for the lack of runs, was playing on his mind
Each and every one has their job to do. People have their opinion. Obviously I was disappointed with my performances before and no doubt about that. But at the end of the day when I come out, I give my all so when I go back to my room I feel justified. If I play a bad shot I look at myself, [and am] harsh on myself. What has been said has been said – [there’s] nothing I can do about it. [People are entitled to] their opinions so I’ve just got to go with the flow.
On the umpiring in the fifth ODI
I don’t want to comment too much on that. At the end of the day that's cricket. Some [decisions] go for you and some go against you and you’ve got to live with that. You can’t change that.
On whether he considered changing his style of batting during the course of the century
Not at all. Being positive is always the way. When you say positive it doesn’t mean [you] go out there and hit sixes; [I was also] looking for the singles, looking to drop the ball. When the ball is in your arc, you go for it. At the end of the day I have the power and I can clear the ground so I back myself. Some days you hole out and look stupid. Some things you’ve got to live with and you’ve got to learn from that. Hopefully I can learn from it and go from strength to strength and do well for West Indies cricket and myself.
On the inability to close matches
We’ve got to sit down and look at the key moments we had because in the first couple of games we were there – we had a chance to win it. It goes [down to] the mental aspect of it, having that killer instinct to finish off teams [...] The West Indies teams [of the past] had it, the Australians had it and now India is playing good cricket. Hopefully we have a couple of months off [and] change the strategy a bit rather than [just work with] bat and ball. [We need to do] some thinking and try and change the approach so hopefully when the situation comes again, we are better equipped and know how to handle it mentally [...]
