DHAKA – High Performance Centre’s (HPC) opening batsman Andre Fletcher says a desire to regain a place on the senior West Indies squad is the driving force behind his recent batting success.
Fletcher top-scored with 51 in the HPC’s second match against Bangladesh “A” after scoring a century in the opening tour match against Bangladesh Cricket Academy last week.
He and his teammates have been following the senior side at the ICC World Twenty20 Tournament in nearby Sri Lanka – and this has helped to fuel Fletcher’s determination on the trip.
“I am very eager to get back into the mix-up with the senior West Indies squad,” he said.
“I am working very hard. I know it will be tough, but I am prepared to put in the long, hard yards and with the grace of God, everything will fall into place.
“I will get back onto the big stage and get a chance to showcase my talent once again.”
Fletcher was a member of the senior West Indies side that took part in the last two ICC World Twenty20 Tournaments in England three years ago and the following year in the Caribbean.
He said he had benefited from the three months already spent at the High Performance Centre and had learnt to identify his strengths and how to use them to his advantage.
“I have been working on a number of my technical flaws at the Sagicor HPC and so far things have been working out for me,” he said.
“I am also preparing myself mentally for the challenge and I have been getting my confidence back, and it has been showing in these two matches.
“I have also come to grips with my weaknesses – how to counter them, how to have a game plan.
“These are some of the things that I have been putting into practice in the two matches that we have played and it was worked for me.”
The Grenadian batsman conceded that he and his teammates were not patient enough against the Bangladesh “A” spinners in the first innings of their second match and this was principally responsible for their paltry total of 147.
“Though the pitch was not at its best, we should have dug in more and be more patient. But that’s the game sometimes.
“It’s not a fast pitch, and there is a lot of turn for the spinners, and from the first day, it was cracking up, but we needed to change our approach and wait for the bad balls.” (CMC)
