Powell looking for brighter things in NZ

Jamaica and West Indies all-rounder Rovman Powell says he wants to quickly put his disappointing Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign behind him and redeem himself with the West Indies team.

Powell spoke to the media via Zoom from New Zealand yesterday, and the right-hander said things are looking up ahead of the start of the three-match T20 series against the Kiwis on November 27.

The West Indies will be seeking to do something they have not done, and that is to win a T20 series in New Zealand. The closest the regional side has come was a 1-1 series draw by a Chris Gayle-led team back in 2008.

For Powell, the series is a chance for him and the Windies to kick-start their early T20 World Cup preparations.

“It’s an important tour not just for the West Indies but also for me. Not scoring a lot of runs in the CPL, that is behind me. It was a difficult competition for me, but it’s brighter things now. We have three T20 games here that I am looking forward to, so hopefully, I can put my best foot forward with quality training sessions leading up to the games,” Powell said.

The Windies will have to do the business without a few of their power hitters with Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, and Andre Russell absent. However, Powell believes the current squad can hold their own against New Zealand.

“I think this squad can turn it around. New Zealand hasn’t been an easy place, not just for us but other overseas teams that tour. If you look at the strength and depth of the squad, it’s a pretty good one. The captain and the coach have stressed on us playing the brand of cricket that we want to play leading up to the World Cup, and all the guys have bought into it,” said Powell.