West Indian fast bowler Kesrick Williams is gearing up for the new season of Abu Dhabi T10 with the new franchise New York Strikers. Williams will be playing under the leadership of his Caribbean teammate Kieron Pollard.
Williams, who had previously represented Karnataka Tuskers in 2019, looks charged up for his second stint with ADT10.
In an exclusive chat, Williams revealed that he started his professional career as a batting all-rounder and Carl Hooper was his inspiration. But once he turned into a fast bowler, he looked up to Brett Lee and Shaun Pollock.
“I fell in love with fast bowling because of Brett Lee and Shaun Pollock. My love for fast bowling came from shattering stumps and hitting someone on the helmet with short deliveries. The energy, the fear that you bring as a fast bowler, I always loved that,” revealed Williams.
When he was asked about cricketers from the golden era of West Indies who would’ve excelled in T10 cricket, Kesrick Williams picked Vivian Richards and Malcolm Marshall.
Richards, who batted at a strike rate of 86.07 in Tests, was the most destructive batter of his era, if not all time. Meanwhile, Malcolm Marshall picked up over 500 wickets in his international career and is considered the greatest fast bowler produced by West Indies to this day.
“Definitely, Viv (Richards). The Master Blaster would definitely want to try out this format,” said the Strikers’ pacer.
“Also, Malcolm Marshall. I haven’t seen a lot of him. But the way he used to bowl, the yorkers and the unexpected bumpers like the Jofra Archer bouncer that everybody talks about. The ball that rises from a good length, he had all the skills. By now, he would’ve developed the slower ball.
Marshall is a legend of international cricket, not just West Indies. He would’ve aced T10 cricket,” Williams added.
Kesrick Williams will test his bouncers and yorkers in the season opener of Abu Dhabi T10 Season 6, when New York Strikers take on Bangla Tigers on November 23 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
