In January last year, West Indies batsman Kieran Powell decided to take a long-shot by choosing the career in a baseball while holding the rounded baseball bat and which did not last long as he has returned to cricket while eyeing to cement his place in the Caribbean national side by giving best of the performances with the bat as he also termed the baseball has brought ‘massive gains’ to his batting.
“I’m definitely glad I did it. I think it’s helped improve my game in so many ways. I think I have a better base when I’m batting now, I’m a lot more solid, I’m able to generate more power and it’s improved my hand-eye co-ordination as well,” Powell was quoted as saying by Press Association Sport.
The 26-year-old hard-hitting batsman will make his return to international cricket after playing his last international game in June 2014. He has been named in the three-match One-day International series against England which is scheduled from March 3 (Friday) in Antigua.
“Hopefully my performances can push me into the Test and the Twenty20 teams,” Powell said.
As West Indies will play under the coaching of Australian Stuart Law, the left-handed batsman is looking forward to restore his cricketing career after leaving it midway while jumping into another professional sport baseball.
While switching between the sport, Powell, who seems more focused on cricket now giving to his recent performance stated the baseball has acquired much-required benefits for him for the long-run.
“They’re massive gains to have to be going into what is a rebirth in my cricketing career. Lots of people don’t get an opportunity to play international cricket and I’m having a second opportunity, Powell added.
According to a report, Powell has returned to cricket following the piece of advice from the former West Indies coach Phil Simmons and he there on delivered the goods for his side with the bat in domestic circuit.
Its that time again! #Super50 #Hurricanes #Focused
Pic courtesy: LICB pic.twitter.com/R30OdjPJW9— Kieran Powell (@officialkpowell) January 24, 2017
Earlier, Powell has impressed the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), selectors after emerging as the leading run scorer in the Regional Super50 domestic List A competition where he has amassed three hundreds and two fifties.
Banking on his successive performances, Powell scored 135, 106,105, 80 and 52 in the Regional Super50 fixtures.
Another century by Kieran Powell — 106 to follow up 105 and 135.
He now has 429 runs to be the leading batsman #LEEvKEN #Super50 pic.twitter.com/r5Jn4nryBL— WINDIES Regional (@WindiesRegional) February 4, 2017
“Hopefully my performances can push me into the Test and the Twenty20 teams as well but I need to go out and do my best and make sure that I don’t leave that in the hands of others,” Powell concluded.
Born in Nevis, Powell made his international debut in 2009 against Bangladesh at Basseterre; so far, he has played 28 ODIs and 28 Tests and a solitary T20I
In 78 first class matches, Powell has amassed 4,452 runs in which he has smashed six hundreds and 24 fifties. In 63 List A games, he has scored 1800 runs which include three centuries and 10 half-centuries.