Rovam Powell on West Indies T20 world cup exit to South Africa

Post match press conference at the end of this home T20 Men's T20 World Cup 2024 and we have captain Rothman Powell available to speak with you. Morning Skip. Not the result, obviously, that the team was hoping for. Would you like to point anything to where there could have been a deficiency or deficiencies in the team's performance? I think when you look on the larger picture is a is a disappointing World Cup. You know, we, we, we, we wanted to win just like any other team, but you know, we weren't able to, to, to win tonight. You know, I think as a, as a team, we played some good cricket. We played good cricket in patches. And tonight was a night was a night where where where our batters were were 1520 run shot and a difficult wicket. There's a feeling that the game plan was to go hard at the South African bowling with possible rain coming. Was that was that was that part of the plan to attack the bowling in anticipation that it would rain? The rain wasn't a factor in in how we play. You know, the inclement weather isn't something we can control, especially when you're batting first. And I saw our plan was was to be aggressive because we know the 1st 6 overs is always important in T20 cricket. You know, we tried to transfer the pressure as a batting group but tonight it just didn't work. What do you think was the reason for the the display from maybe the top six batsmen? Was it nerves? Was it a little bit anxiety, overcast train caution to the wind? I think, I think it's just a case of the wicket not being an easy wicket to button, to be honest. You know, it needed a little bit more grit, a little bit more determination that we're sure, you know, if you should look on the all both teams button it even South Africa kind of struggle to get the 136 runs that we made. And I say it wasn't the easiest of surface, but as players we have to add up and and and come up with solutions at 15 to 15 for two South Africa chasing and the rains came that sort of our maybe dampen the momentum. Yeah, those things happen. You know, as you say, we can't control the inclement. What about that? 15 for two? And we came off with the rain. The guys believe. And that is what is important. Rothman, can you describe the the emotion that was there before the game started? There was such a big build up and the beautiful performance and the, the packed crowd here. Was that difficult to deal with that that emotion at the start. Now, to be honest, the emotions was levelled, levelled in the sense where the guys left the hotel wanting to play for the people of the Caribbean, wanting to win, you know, and it just, it just, we just weren't successful tonight. And it's it's sports, it's a game of cricket and those things do happen. How difficult was it out there when you were fielding after that rain? You were desperately looked like desperately trying to drive that ball. Was that making things particularly difficult for the spinners, I guess, especially when when class and Conor them went after you? Yeah, we know it was always going to be a little bit difficult with the wet ball, especially for us with three spinners, you know, but I haven't said that. I think the guys, the bowling group have to be commended, you know, only 130 on the board. And I think they really fought for us. Yeah. Did you that they pulled right back. You thought, you thought obviously that you you had a chance to, to go, particularly when they lost that last wicket. Did you think you still had it then? Yeah, I think even down to the last we thought, we thought we were in for a shot. You know, we just were just were a little a little off in, in, in, in Every time we're trying to we're trying to prevent a bungee. They get a bungee, you know, they get bungees at critical stage of the game and that will always hurt us as a team. And just I guess a word on the, the, the atmosphere tonight. And, you know, they would rather ask the crowd to rally and they really did try and rally for you. What, what, what did that mean to you? Yeah, it means a lot. You know, it means a lot. It means a lot. You know, for, for, for cricket to be to be buzzing again in the Caribbean is a very good feeling. You know, when when we turn up to all the venues. We started in Guyana and it was fantastic. And then we moved to Trinidad with a solo crowd. You know, we went to Saint Lucia, which which was beautiful also. And then we went to Barbados and a solo crowd again and coming to Antigua to see so much people around the Caribbean rallying around us, giving us a buzz. You know, it's very, very important. And it goes to show how important cricket is in the region in unifying in the Caribbean islands. The beauty of the the T20 World Cup format is that you've got just two years until the next one. I know, you know, you don't want to reflect, you know, too much on on maybe tonight. But maybe looking ahead, going forward, what do you kind of take from the depositives from this tournament for for two years time? I think not just not, not just this tournament, but the cricket that we have played over the last 12 months. You know, to take 12 months to move from #9 in the world to #3 in the ICC ranking is an absolutely amazing jump. And it's for us as a team to continue working. It's for us as a team to stay still, close, close, knitted. And it's for us as a team to just keep on building. And as you say, 24 months time, we have another shot of the World Cup. Hopefully guys here can continue playing and doing well in international cricket and franchise cricket. And when that time come, we'll have the same core players trying to win a World Cup for the Caribbean. That's actually across all three formats, really, because you've had, you know, there's been test success in one day cricket as well. And now looking at 2020 cricket. But for for Robin Powell, what's you know, what, what's the what's the goal? What do you individually do to, to kind of keep helping W Indies move, move forward the way that they they seem to be? I think it's always, it's always a a case for me as a as a captain to continue to to motivate guys to play for West Indies. You know, they're driving for stuff in of a franchise cricket and the money that comes with franchise cricket make it always difficult to West Indies in a small board to feel their best team, you know, But I think it's been it's been good so far for the last year or two. And hopefully, hopefully guys can always and will will mainly choose to play for West Indies. You know, there's a buzz around the region now in playing for West Indies. So hopefully that continue, hopefully we continue on the right path. And what do you say to the Caribbean public who would have been a little bit disappointed with the West Indies not going all the way? What what words of assurance can you give to the Caribbean public at this time? They are disappointed. We as players are disappointed because we think we are the personnel within our room to actually win our own World Cup. You know, but haven't said that we have played good cricket. We have entertained them in patches and it's just for them to keep on supporting us. You know, you know how important the support is in whatever you do. So I would implore them to just keep on working with us, keep on supporting us. Over the last 12 months or so, we have played fantastic cricket. It's maybe one of the first time a W Indies team is ranked #3 in T20 in the world. And that must say something. Just looking back and taking the Super 8 into context, how much has how much that defeat to England would have, you know, heard the team's chances of progressing to the semis? I think the defeat against England was, was, was very disappointing for us as players, but also it was a wake up call. It was a wake up call because we were playing consistently good cricket. So it showed us, it showed us that hey, on in T20 cricket anything is possible, you know, but you know it looking back now in hindsight, we can say that two points against England was very, very important because we see how the group, how the group come down. But I haven't said that each and every game in the Super Eights. We know it was gonna be is it was gonna be tough. We know each and every game in the soupy, it was always important. Thanks.