Defending champions England on Sunday, December 24 announced the appointment of Kieron Pollard to their coaching staff for the T20 World Cup in 2024. The former West Indies all-rounder will work as the assistant coach of the team, specifically for the marquee tournament which will be played in the West Indies and the USA next year in June.

Kieron Pollard’s appointment comes as a tactical move from England as the holders will be looking to tap into the legendary all-rounder’s knowledge of local conditions.

Pollard led the West Indies in the T20 World Cup in 2021. The 2012 T20 World Cup champion retired from international cricket in April 2022 and then retired from the Indian Premier League later that year. Pollard continued to play T20 franchise-based leagues and has also been part of the coaching set-up of teams in the past. Pollard has been working with Mumbai Indians since the start of the IPL 2023 season as their batting coach.

“Pollard will join the England Men’s team specifically for the T20 World Cup as an assistant coach and to provide expertise of local conditions. Pollard was a part of West Indies’ 2012 Men’s T20 World Cup success and has vast experience in the format having played more than 600 matches,” the ECB said in a statement.

Kieron Pollard recently led the New York Strikers to the title in the Abu Dhabi T10 league, which ended on December 9. Pollard played 101 T20Is and hit more than 1,5000 runs and picked more than 40 wickets in his decorated career.

England, it seems, will leave no stone unturned to prepare well for the T20 World Cup after their disappointing run in the ODI World Cup in India earlier this year. England have persisted with Jos Buttler as captain despite their ordinary showing in India.

Only earlier this month, England lost to West Indies in a 5-match T20I series despite staging a comeback from having been 2-0 down.