West Indies ODI and T20I skipper Kieron Pollard has high hopes from Shimron Hetmyer and said that the left-hander is a ‘generational talent' who can shape the future of West Indies cricket. He referred to his ever so improving record in the ODIs and his batting performances in the Indian Premier League to base his claims about Hetmyer’s ability.
“We love Hetty. He is a young, talented cricketer. He is a guy who we know, deep in our hearts, can take West Indies cricket forward from a generational point of view with his skill and what he can achieve on a cricket field,” Kieron Pollard told Line & Length TV Show on Sportsmax.
“He has a fantastic record in ODI cricket. We saw what he can do in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and it’s just for him to take what’s in front of him. The world is at his feet," he further added.
Pollard said that the West Indies need him to play and excel in all forms of the game however Hetmyer himself will have to take the onus upon himself to shine bright for Windies and himself.
"He knows the truth and he knows what it is. We would love Hetty to be playing all three formats, but as the saying goes, ‘You can only take the horse to the water, but you can’t force him to drink.’ With that being said, I will leave it right there and for the individual to get things together," Pollard added.
Hetmyer has been included in the West Indies T20I squad for the upcoming series against South Africa and the explosive batsman will have ample opportunities to ratify the big praise from his skipper.