Back to cricket after a baseball stint, Kieran Powell hoping to make the most of his return
Kieran Powell has been recalled to the West Indies squad for the ODI series against England starting on March 3 after a three-year gap, and the opener is hoping to make the most of the opportunity. Powell also feels that his stint in baseball has helped him get better at cricket.
The left-handed batsman made his international debut as a 19-year-old in an ODI against Bangladesh back in July 2009 but failed to hold down a regular place. The 26-year-old’s last international appearance was in June 2014 at Kingston in a Test against New Zealand.
In order to deal with some personal issues, Powell took a self-imposed break from the game in 2015 before foraying into the world of baseball. Powell had been training in Florida in an attempt to make it to Major League Baseball.
However, following an interaction with West Indies coach Phil Simmons, Powell returned to cricket and ended up being the leading run-scorer in the Regional Super50 – the domestic fifty-over competition in West Indies – which earned him a spot in the national squad.
"I'm definitely glad I did it (baseball stint). I think it's helped improve my game in so many ways. I think I have a better base when I'm batting now, I'm a lot more solid, I'm able to generate more power and it's improved my hand-eye co-ordination as well. They're massive gains to have to be going into what is a rebirth in my cricketing career," Powell was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
Lots of people don't get an opportunity to play international cricket and I'm having a second opportunity.
Powell
"Lots of people don't get an opportunity to play international cricket and I'm having a second opportunity. I just need to
"Hopefully my performances can push me into the Test and the Twenty20 teams as well but I need to go out and do my best and make sure that I don't leave that in the hands of others. I'm not taking anything for granted, being back in cricket after such a long time it's an opportunity and a good privilege. I'm
A lot has changed in the dressing room since the last time Powell was in it. He will now need to adjust to a new management and a new group of players but he is excited at the prospect of working with a young group of players who are hungry for success.
"I enjoyed playing with those guys and I learned a lot from them. I think it's a now a situation where we have a young team where guys are looking to prove themselves. I'm also looking to do the same thing. Hopefully, we can feed off each other's performances, help each other to get better and that's all we can ask for."
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