West Indies captain Rovman Powell has emphasized that his team’s primary focus remains on their ongoing five-match series against England and not the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Powell, who took over as captain last February, is determined to continue the team’s quest for improvement after their previous T20 World Cup qualification setback. Under his leadership, West Indies has achieved an unbeaten record, winning their last two series against South Africa and India.
In a recent match against England at Kensington Oval, West Indies secured a four-wicket victory, taking a significant step towards winning the series. And on Thursday West Indies extended their series lead to 2-0 following a 10-run victory in Granada. However, just ahead of the second game Powell stressed that the team is not thinking about the World Cup just yet, as there are still many variables that can impact their journey to the tournament.
Focus is now on Grenada
Powell stated, “Our focus is now on Grenada, trying to get our combinations right. There are still some areas in the team that are of concern, and we’re just trying to fix them series by series, and hopefully in six months’ time when we reach the World Cup, we’re in a good space.”
In the match against England, West Indies bowled out their opponents for 171, with Andre Russell, making his return to T20 International cricket after two years, playing a pivotal role with three wickets and an unbeaten 29 runs in a Man-of-the-Match performance.
Despite the victory, Powell acknowledged that there are areas in the team’s game that need improvement. He highlighted the need to control the power-play phase more effectively, as it has been inconsistent in previous series. Powell believes that mastering this aspect of their game will give West Indies an advantage.
Good batting form
Since becoming captain, Powell has maintained a good batting form with an average of 44. He expressed his approach to captaincy, stating, “I try not to be a captain when I’m batting. The role of captain itself is pressuring, so I just try to be a batter first and then whatever comes after comes after.”
In summary, West Indies, under Powell’s leadership, is focused on continuous improvement in their ongoing series against England, with their sights set on addressing weaknesses in their game as they prepare for the T20 World Cup in the future. Powell is determined to maintain his batting form while leading the team effectively.
