“I said they can’t keep a good man down,Always keep a smile when they want me to frown.”Kieron Pollard lent forward and sang the opening lines of Sizzla’s Solid As A Rock at the post-match presentation, celebrating a series win that West Indies desperately needed. It felt like the start of a recovery.Only two weeks ago, West Indies’ limited-overs side were at a low ebb. With their disastrous defence of the T20 World Cup they had regained in 2016 fresh in the memory, Pollard stood in front of the cameras after a 2-1 defeat at home to an Ireland side depleted by Covid looking like a man at the end of his tether. “It’s a sad day for us and sad day for West Indies cricket,” he said.On Sunday night, the contrast was stark. West Indies came together to celebrate a dramatic win in the T20I series decider against England, with Pollard leading a lap of honour around the Kensington Oval. Jason Holder, who had iced the win with four wickets in four balls, 24 hours after conceding four consecutive sixes, chatted to Sir Garfield Sobers on the outfield while Pollard addressed those who have criticised him and his team.
