Bennett expects King to shine for Windies

Former Jamaica national cricket coach and current chief selector Junior Bennett believes that the selection of Jamaican batsman Brandon King to the West Indies One Day International (ODI), and T20 squad is merited and expects him to do well at the international level.

Bennett, who has overseen King’s progress at the regional level over the years, says the right-hander has all the traits to do well for the regional team.

“I am really happy for young King to earn his first call-up. From the first time when I saw him make some 70-odd runs in his first senior game against Trinidad and Tobago, I knew he was a special talent, and what he has done in the CPL this year didn’t surprise me (Caribbean Premier League) because he has always been a confident player from the under-15 and under-19 levels,” said Bennett.

King, who was a ninth-round pick in this year’s CPL draft, emerged as the leading run scorer in the tournament with 496 runs, including a record-breaking 132 not out vs the Barbados Tridents.

Since modifying his game to be more still and selective at the crease, the runs have not stopped flowing for the 24-year-old, and his exploits did not go unnoticed as King was among the 15 ODI and T20 players named by Cricket West Indies to tour India to face Afghanistan early next month.

For Bennett, the task for the youngster now is to grasp the opportunity with both hands.

“I know he has the talent and quality to play at the international level, but it’s not all about talent. He has to continue to put in the hard work, which he has done over the past couple of months, and focus on playing his game. Once he does that, he should continue to produce good scores,” added Bennett.

Meanwhile, Kieron Pollard will lead the team in the ODI and T20 series against Afghanistan starting on November 5 in Dehradun. The regional side will also square off with Afghanistan in a single Test from November 27 to December 1.

T20I squad: Kieron Pollard (c), Nicholas Pooran, Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Brandon King, Fabian Allen, Jason Holder, Hayden Walsh Jr., Lendl Simmons, Khary Pierre, Sheldon Cottrell, Denesh Ramdin, Kesrick Williams, Alzarri Joseph.

ODI squad: Kieron Pollard (c), Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, Sunil Ambris, Nicholas Pooran, Brandon King, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Hayden Walsh Jr., Khary Pierre, Sheldon Cottrell, Keemo Paul, Alzarri Joseph, Romario Shepherd.

Test squad: Jason Holder (c), Shai Hope, John Campbell, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shimron Hetmyer, Shamrah Brooks, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Sunil Ambris, Jomel Warrican, Rahkeem Cornwall, Kemar Roach, Keemo Paul, Alzarri Joseph