BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara has showered praise on rookie Jamaican all-rounder Rovman Powell, labelling him one for the future.
The 22-year-old was a surprise pick in the CPL draft for Jamaica Tallawahs earlier this year but has already impressed during the tournament and his performances have not gone unnoticed by the legendary Sangakkara.
“He’s an extremely impressive young man. I think he really knows how to play the game … he knows his strengths and he trusts his game, and he’s good against pace and spin,” Sangakkara said.
“I don’t want to jinx anything for him but just looking at him – the first time I saw him bat and bat properly, my mouth was open. I said to (Paul) Nixon, this guy can bat.”
Powell scored a matured 38 from 42 balls to bail Tallawahs out of trouble against Guyana Amazon Warriors in Georgetown last week, in what has been his best innings of the tournament.
He had caught the attention back in May when he struck a boundary-studded half-century for West Indies in a 50-overs practice game against a Barbados Select XI.
Sangakkara said it was important talent like Powell’s was carefully nurtured and kept focused.
“It’s a case of ensuring that these young boys – there are so many around the West Indies – work hard, keep things basic and without looking too far ahead,” the veteran left-hander said.
“Like I always say, never expect to play for your country but always want to play for your country and he’ll be fine. He’s got a great future ahead of him.”
Sangakkara recently retired from international cricket after a stellar career that saw him plunder 12 400 runs from 134 Tests and 14 234 from 404 One-Day Internationals.
He has been plying his trade since on the T20 circuit and said playing alongside West Indies talent in the Tallawahs had been a revelation.
“The Tallawahs have been a great bunch of boys to play with,” the 38-year-old said.
“They’ve been really nice, very talented and it’s been exciting to see, not just from the Tallawahs but from all the other franchise teams, how exciting the young West Indian talent is, and I think it’s good for West Indian cricket in the future that they can have such a talented bunch of guys to select from.”
Tallawahs lie second in the standings on five points, already five adrift of the in-form Guyana Amazon Warriors who sit top on 10 points, but are confident of going on a winning run on their home leg which bowls off Friday.
And Sangakkara said stepping out at the historic Sabina Park would serve as an inspiration.
“Every ground has its history and traditions and Sabina Park is no different,” he noted.
“It’s always nice wherever you go in the world, you get to the cricket ground and you think back about the greats who have walked the field and you feel very special playing on the same pitches they would have … it’s a great feeling.”
