Dwayne Smith is after team glory for Barbados.
But team director Henderson Springer has warned that tactics and an all-round team effort will be crucial if the Bajans are to win the 2012 Caribbean Twenty20 cricket title.
Smith, who will be the key batsman at the top of the order, credits his recent batting success to doing a lot of extra hard work with Barbados’ batting coach Emmerson Trotman.
During the recently concluded UWI Cave Hill T20 Festival, which Barbados won, the hard-hitting Smith hammered three consecutive half-centuries.
“I feel a lot more comfortable at the crease. I am much clearer now as what to do when I am batting. I am in the best form of my life and I am happy at the response from the public to my batting,” the strongly-built Smith told NATIONSPORT.
The 28-year-old Smith goes into the 2012 Caribbean T20 championship in magnificent form despite a moderate regional T20 batting record. In 11 matches, Smith has compiled 217 runs with two half-centuries. His strike rate is 144.66, having struck 15 sixes and 14 fours off 150 balls.
“My first goal is to help Barbados win the 2012 Championship by giving them good starts as I am now opening the batting. I also want to be more consistent in my scoring. If I achieve my short-term goals, my long-term goals for Barbados and West Indies cricket will be realized,” he opined.
Meanwhile, Springer said he was happy with his team’s performance after they played unbeaten, while defeating arch rivals, Trinidad and Tobago twice to win the UWI T20 Festival.
“The tournament was timely. A lot of the teams needed match practice under lights which is provided here at the 3Ws Oval,” he said.
“Dwayne Smith stood out and I was impressed by young Shane Dowrich, who was playing for Barbados in T20 for the first time. The tournament gave Barbados the opportunity to build on team work as was exemplified by our fielding in the tournament,” Springer said.
Even though the Caribbean T20 bowls off today in Antigua, Barbados won’t be in action until Thursday when they open their campaign against Netherlands.
“Obviously when the tournament starts they will be more stress. We are still searching for the right combination as we are giving people the opportunity to fit into key positions,” Springer noted.
“But as far as the tournament is concerned, team selection and tactics will have to fall into place, as well as individual performances. I am looking for a contribution from everybody in the team,” he said.
Springer also noted that being in what is regarded as the tougher zone, alongside Jamaica, Combined Campuses and Colleges, Netherlands and English county, Sussex, makes it even more critical to hit the ground running and play every match with the same intensity.
“The thing about T20 cricket it is a performance sport. There is no margin for error and there is little room for recovery. My simple policy will be that every team is a worthy opponent and should be taken seriously,” he said.
