ICC T20 World Cup: Hetmyer showed up when he was most needed

By Brandon Corlette

He scored 242 runs and finished as the super-striker in the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL), thus it was only a matter of time before flamboyant West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer reminded the world of his stellar capabilities as he participated in the ICC T20 World Cup.

In the West Indies’ heart-breaking defeat to Sri Lanka, Hetmyer’s unbeaten 81 was solid evidence that he is learning, and that he is still able to assess and play ball according to the situation.
The 24-year-old standout from Cumberland, East Canje, Berbice has spoken about his hunger for consistency, the words of encouragement he received from Dwayne “The Champion” Bravo, and the Ricky Ponting effect at Delhi Capitals as he reflected on his career best T20 International innings.
Prior to the Sri Lanka match, Hetmyer had scored 19 runs in three innings. After the Sri Lanka match, Hetmyer was the only West Indies’ man with 100 runs to his credit in this World Cup; many other West Indian batsmen being afflicted with the sickness called inconsistency.

“I think it’s really for us not to think about it (consistency struggles) too much, just to go out there and be our best. When you go out and have that (struggle with consistency) in mind too much, you are not focused on actually playing the game and hitting the ball. It’s just for you as a player to know your strengths and your weaknesses; and just go out, execute as much as you can, try to remember the good things you have done, and keep doing that,” Hetmyer said.
Reflecting on his top knock, wherein he batted for 96 minutes, the former West Indies U-19 World Cup-winning captain said: “I was trying to give the team and myself a chance. At the time, the spinners were the only ones posing a danger for any of the batsmen. With pace on the ball, it would have been much easier. At the time, I was thinking to get at least 24 runs off any of the spinners, and when the seamers come on, try to capitalise as much as possible. I tried to get 10-plus off each of the seamers’ overs. Losing wickets did not really help the cause.”

The Ponting effect
Hetmyer played two seasons at the Delhi Capitals franchise in the IPL, during which time he rubbed shoulders with some of the best batsmen ever to play the game.
Hetmyer said Head Coach at the Capitals, Aussie legend Ricky Ponting, has played a big role in his career. Pugnacious when he began his career batting at the top, Hetmyer was eventually able to show versatility, and was the designated finisher for the Capitals.
“…it was something different. Last year, it was something that I was uncomfortable doing (finishing or batting all the way down to the end), but after I really took it on board and gave myself a chance, then is when I really reaped the rewards of it, (rather) than just going out there and express myself; although I give myself a few balls, and then just go from there with the freedom, that really helped as well,” he explained.
While some question why Hetmyer was not given a specific role in this West Indies team, the left-hander made it clear that his role was crystal clear to him. He noted that his role was playing according to the situation of the game, and it was easy in this West Indies team, which included a lot of ‘senior’ players.

He noted that, during his unbeaten innings, he gave himself a chance – something which he did not do for the most part of the T20 World Cup. Further, Hetmyer noted that the team was working on limiting the dot ball percentage.
Hetmyer has been tipped alongside Nicholas Pooran to take the reins of the West Indies team in the future, but he has said he is not overly concerned about future tags, but is focused on helping the team. “I am trying to be as consistent as I can. It really helps with the overall performance of the team,” he said.

Bravo’s inspirational effect
Speaking to Alex Jordan and Darren Sammy at a special post-match show, Dwayne Bravo, who refused to take credit for Hetmyer’s 81, said he has pinpointed Hetmyer and Pooran to carry the team.
Bravo disclosed that these two young ones are too good not to win games on a consistent basis. Dwayne “The Champion” Bravo also said he might have said a few ‘bad words’ to Hetmyer and Pooran.
Hetmyer, however, had this to say: “He spoke about myself and Pooran being the future, and (that we should) put our hands up more times than not to win games for the West Indies. He also said we should not be lackadaisical with practice and our mindsets. We must have that mindset that, whatever the situation is, we can win the game for our team, and that is something that will help us in our development. So far, it’s been good, because after he spoke to us, Pooran got two 40s and then I got an 80. So far, it’s been good words.”
West Indies will play Pakistan in a white-ball tour shortly, and Hetmyer would want to continue his consistency. The men in maroon will sign off the T20 World Cup when they meet Australia today (November 6) from 6:00h Eastern Caribbean time.