King sets sights on bigger, better 2020

Last year, Jamaican Brandon King lit up the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) following some swashbuckling performances that etched his name amongst some of the greats in the short format.

King, who represented the Guyana Amazon Warriors, ended the tournament with the most runs, 496, the highest total in CPL history, 132 not out, and the most sixes, 32.

Those numbers did not go unnoticed for the West Indies selectors as in October 2019, King was named in the West Indies’ One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) squads for their series against Afghanistan in India. He made his ODI debut for the West Indies against Afghanistan on November 11, 2019, after which he made his T20I debut for the West Indies, also against Afghanistan, on November 14.To say 2019 was a breakout year for the 25-year-old would be an understatement, and the Kingston Cricket Club batsman says he is hungry for more with the CPL slated to get underway next month in Trinidad.

“I am excited just to be able to start playing cricket again. Last year I did well and I want to show some level of consistency going into this year’s tournament,” said King.

REVOLUTIONISE HIS GAME

Blessed with the ability to play almost every shot in the book, King says his time with the Guyana Amazon Warriors and the West Indies set-up last year, has helped him to revolutionise his game. It is with that renewed confidence that he is expecting bigger and better things to come.

“Over the past year I have been exposed to more professionalism and I understand more of what it takes now to perform at the highest level. I have learnt a lot in terms of preparation both physically and mentally and I think I am in a better place to perform,” added King.

With a new shorter format proposed for this year’s CPL due to the coronavirus pandemic, King believes physical fitness will play a key role in preparation, which he has been doing since the lockdown.

“I have been doing a lot of work on my own fitness-wise and since restrictions have been eased, I have started to do one-on-one net sessions with coach Andre Coley and the Jamaica Scorpions franchise. I am, however, looking to rejoin the Guyana Amazon Warriors and getting back to playing again and scoring runs. Last year I made 496 runs so I am looking to hit the 500 mark this season,” King stated.

The 2020 edition of the CPL will be played entirely behind closed doors from August 18 to September 20, with all matches set to take place at Trinidad & Tobago.