CPL: Powell making “conscious effort to bat more balls”

By Avenash Ramzan

Rovman Powell’s success in recent times is not by chance. There is an effective method that has been successfully applied and seamlessly transferred from the nets to game day.

The Jamaica Tallawahs all-rounder is in the best form of his life, and that was perfectly exemplified when he got wickets, made runs and effected dismissals in the field against the Guyana Amazon Warriors in Match 29 of the Hero CPL at Providence.

The effervescent 25-year-old took 2-21 and pouched three catches, including a stunning one-hander on the boundary, then made an attacking 55 not out in a century partnership with Ross Taylor to help Tallawahs overcome Warriors 173-6.

There is an air of confidence when Powell speaks these days. After Saturday night’s game, he was at it again.

“I think it’s just better practice,” he said when asked about the transformation in his batting. “I’ve changed the way how I train and I make a conscious effort to bat more balls. Instead of batting 20 and 30 balls, I try to bat 60 and 70 and I think that is what I’ve changed.”

Powell is one of five batsmen with over 300 runs this season. He has accumulated 314 runs from nine innings at an average of 62.80, with an impressive strike rate of 161.85.

The right-hander has struck 20 Hero Maximums this season, and also crossed fifty thrice with the highest being 84 against St. Kitts Patriots in St. Kitts.

“I didn’t get a very good tournament last year, and to bounce back the way how I bounce back this year is tremendous; it gives me a good feeling inside,” Powell said.

“I’m an all-rounder; I try to carry three aspects of my cricket to the Tallawahs team and to any team that I’m playing for, so it’s hard work and dedication that have carried me here so far.”

Tallawahs Assistant Coach, Ramnaresh Sarwan, in an exclusive with News Room, spoke highly of Powell’s work ethic and what he brings to the franchise.

“I think Rovman is very talented. He’s got a very bright future,” Sarwan declared. “His capacity and the eagerness that he shows to learn is very good as young player, because obviously you want to learn as much as possible and I think he’s open to learning and improve.”

“I met a very good friend in Jamaica who has a net in his front yard, and he usually goes there to practice when there’s no practice in Jamaica. That in itself tells you that he wants to work hard on his game and improve; I think he’s a special talent.”

Powell has also done well for West Indies in 2018. In nine ODIs, he has amassed 296 runs at 49.66 with a fifty and a hundred, which came against Ireland in the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe.