WHILE admitting that the West Indies will need performances from everybody if they are to progress in the Ballr Tri-Series being played in the Caribbean, bowling coach, Roddy Estwick, has pointed a finger at Sunil Narine.“I have nicknamed Sunil Narine ‘Iceman’, I cannot understand how this man can be under so much pressure and still be cool. He has come back from real difficulties and is bowling so well.
He is key for us and has bowled brilliantly this series and we hope this continues,” Estwick, who recently took over the role from former West Indies standout fast bowler, Curtley Ambrose, said during a press conference at the Providence Stadium in Guyana yesterday.
The West Indies opened the series with victory against South Africa, where Narine took 6-27, to give the West Indies an easy run chase. Though the West Indies lost the second game against Australia, by six wickets, Narine was again brilliant, bagging 2-26.
The team batted poorly during the game, however, Estwick believes the bowling is coming together nicely.
“We are trying to stop the opposition’s momentum, not giving them that first ball four and that last ball four, where they can gain momentum. Looking at the bowling I think we are 75 per cent there, we have to keep working and keeping passing on ideas. Keep learning and I always say if teaching takes place, then learning will take place,” he said.
According to Estwick, his short stint has been good with the promise of marked improvement later on.
Estwick says he has put together structures for the improvement of the bowling, and that players have been working hard to pull results from those structures.
“So far we have put some systems in place and once they continue to follow it and work hard, things will be fine. It is not going to be easy but the discipline and work ethic is there so the improvement will come,” he said. (Sportsmax.com)