Pollard back for T&T in Volcanoes clash

Trinidad Express article.

Port of Spain, Trinidad - West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard will provide a much needed boost to the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force team ahead for the eighth round West Indies Cricket Board Professional Cricket League four-day match against the Windward Islands Volcanoes which bowls off on Friday at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva.

The Red Force resumed training at Couva on Monday with Pollard joining the team in preparation for the four-day clash and chairman of selectors Alec Burns believes the hard hitting all-rounder will bring a lot of energy to the team who are currently fifth on the six-team standings.

The Queen’s Park Cricket Club all-rounder slammed a century for his club in the National League over the weekend and is welcome addition to the Red Force who have been struggling to put runs on the board this season.

Pollard comes into the team for injured fast bowler Shannon Gabriel who missed T&T’s previous match against Jamaica due to a shoulder injury.

Pollard’s QPCC teammate Jeremy Solozano also returns to the line-up after missing T&T’s win over Jamaica with an injury. Solozano replaces fellow opener Evin Lewis. According to Burns, Lewis was given some time to regroup following the Jamaica match when he scored zero and 21.

Burns also noted that Pollard’s inclusion was intended to add some experience to the youthful Red Force line up. “He is fit and we think he can bring a lot to the team, not only with his skill but also with his personality...he has a wealth of experience and he will definitely be a big boost for the team,” said Burns.

“The youngsters will gravitate towards him and we have a lot of young players in this team so we decided that we needed some more experience to help guide the players and Pollard,” Burns added.

And although the T&T Red Force are out of the title race, Burns said the players still have a lot of play for. “This is a good opportunity for the younger players to get experience at this level. The main thing for us at this stage is building and getting that nucleus together,” the chairman of selectors explained.

T&T Squad: Rayad Emrit (captain), Jeremy Solozano, Imran Khan, Kjorn Ottley, Jason Mohammed, Yannic Cariah, Kieron Pollard, Steven Katwaroo, Marlon Richards, Akeal Hosein, Daniel St. Clair, Yannick Ottley, Derone Davis.