Fine line between winning and losing in international cricket: Pollard

While the visiting West Indies side did not pose a lot of questions to the hosts India in the three-match ODI series, it was widely expected that they would put on a show in the T20I series. Despite being on top of the game multiple times during the series, Windies squandered the advantage to being whitewashed by India. 

In the post-match press conference, the Windies skipper Kieron Pollard stated that it was a good series for the visitors to understand their flaws. Alongside that, Pollard also downplayed all the criticism, stating that there is a fine line between winning and losing in international cricket. 

“It just goes to show the fine line in international cricket between winning and losing, and the margins for error - when you are bowling or batting. I thought it was a good series. The guys put their hands up and gave a good account of themselves. I don't think we should be disgraced by what has taken place. Yes, we lost 0-3," Pollard stated in the press conference. 

“It's not like we win, and if we lose, we lose. It's not like that at all. We are trying to win cricket games. We are happy with the performances. We don't have white-ball cricket for three and a half months so we have time to think about what's there for the future,” the Windies skipper added. 

One of the continual worries for the visitors has been their execution with the ball in the back end. Earlier this year, the Three Lions exposed Windies issues at the death and now the problem has carried on with India. 

"Executing in the backend is something we need to work on. From a bowling perspective, for the first 15 overs of this game, we had India right where we wanted them to be. Right through the series, it was just a matter of finishing off the games in the backend. From a batting perspective, 157, 180 (178) and 170 (167) we did fairly decently."

Pollard also insisted that the team is ‘work in progress’ and deserves a long rope, instead of the constant chopping and changing. 

"We are not chopping and changing for the sake of it. The guys come in, play their roles and then you go back and check if you played your role as an individual. That's about it as a team. We have to give guys opportunities and we have to win as well.

"Kyle got us one score. Again, a work in progress. Chase was a forced change in the first game and he actually bowled well. Cottrell bowled well, barring one over. The guys put their hands up on different occasions, so it's a work in progress. Chase played well for the team. He came in and showed what he can do."

Nicholas Pooran walked into the series on the back of miserable form. However, over the three-match series, the southpaw overturned his fortunes with three half-centuries, showing great consistency. 

"Nicholas was outstanding. Three fifties in three games. He had the consistency we had asked for. I don't want to take up the word consistency and take the word responsibility and make it sound like it he has to do the job. At the end of the day, he's a young player and we want him to be consistent,” Pollard said.

“He's still learning his craft but he has what it takes to be a force to be reckoned with as a batter and as a leader in international cricket."