Kieron Pollard lambasts pitch at Barbados, says unacceptable for international standards

West Indies limited-overs skipper Kieron Pollard lashed out on the pitch at Kensington Oval in Barbados which hosted the 3rd and the final ODI against Australia and termed it ‘absolutely ridiculous’ following his side’s six-wicket defeat against Australia in the series decider. 

The T20I series proved to be a high scoring one but the ODI series have seen several low scores. Australia managed to score 252 in the opening encounter and managed to defend that quite convincingly. In the second encounter, West Indies chased down 188 with relative ease and again in the 3rd encounter, we witnessed a low scoring match. 

The wicket at Barbados was two-paced with some of the deliveries taking off from a length. The dry nature of the surface also assisted the spinners which were evident from the fact that even Pooalrd resorted to bowling off-spin in this pitch. 

The swashbuckling all-rounder accepted that his side wasn’t up to the mark in the ODI series but he blamed the surface on offer and said that it was unacceptable for international cricket. 

"Coming here to Barbados, I think both teams struggled on the pitch and I think that's unacceptable for international cricket. We're not going to make excuses. We accept that we batted badly but I don't think the scores that we have gotten in this three-match series, for two top international teams, I think that's very embarrassing for us as a people. Coming from St Lucia to this, I think it's absolutely ridiculous,” Pollard said at the post-match presentation ceremony. 

Pollard further added that Windies needed to start moving forward in every aspect of the game starting from regional cricket. "It was plain for the world to see. If I continue going on about it, it's going to be headlines, 'Pollard this, Pollard that.' That's fine with me.

"But the reality is, we as players sometimes we get the brunt of the accusations and all the bad stuff. But give guys the opportunity to come and play on some good cricketing wickets. It goes back even to our regional cricket as well. I think as a whole we need to do better, and we as individuals need to do better as well. So we're not going to cast blame. We're going to accept responsibility as well. But I think as a holistic approach and holistic view to move forward," he further added.