Kieron Pollard

1. Kieron Pollard National and International Cricket Player West Indies, Trinidad & Tobago, Mumbai Indians, Adelaide Strikers, Somerset CCC, Dhaka Gladiators “There is no greater match-winner in T20 cricket at present than Kieron Pollard who packs a fantastic all-round package…” Mumbai Indians Team Profile, 2010 Photo Source: Christopher Jones

2. Kieron Pollard - The Facts • DOB: 12 May 1987 • Height: 195cm • Weight: 106kgs • Role: All-rounder (RHB-RAMF) • Country: West Indies • ODI Debut: 10/4/2007 v South Africa • T20I Debut: 20/6/2008 v Australia • IPL Debut: 2010 (IPL 3) Photo Source: IPL

3. Kieron Pollard – The Bio Kieron Adrian Pollard is an international cricket sensation. An aggressive all-rounder for the West Indian cricket team, he has impressed fans all over the world since his One Day International debut in 2007 with his ability to hit a ball harder and cleaner than any other player. Pollard is one of the world's best Twenty20 players; with a strike rate of over 160 and a canny ability for taking wickets when it matters, he is touted as a hallmark of what a modern cricketer should be. A giant right-handed batsman (he stands tall at 6’4”) of the middle order, as well as a medium-fast bowler, his stunning performances in recent years in the Champion’s League (Trinidad and Tobago) and Australia’s Big Bash (Adelaide Strikers) have impressed fans, teammates and won over critics. He was the joint highest paid player in the 2010 Indian Premier League (Mumbai Indians) and is a current player in the Bangladesh Premier League for the Dhaka Gladiators. Born 15th May 1987 in Trinidad and Tobago, Pollard’s upbringing with his two younger sisters and single mother was far from easy. Upon reflection he admits it was ‘pretty tough’ to be told there was only a small amount of money to see them through daily. Cricket was an expensive sport, and he had to make sacrifices in order to play. He says that the resulting opportunities his cricket career has given him are a massive driving force in his bid to succeed at the highest level. At 18 years of age, Pollard caught the eye of international selectors with his exceptional performances at the U/19 Cricket World Cup. That same year he made his first-class debut for Trinidad and Tobago in the World Cup, finishing as the competition’s leading run-scorer. In his first One Day International in 2007, he scored an impressive 126 from 71 balls and smashed 6 sixes, one being off his first scoring shot. In the 2008-09 Twenty20 season, he claimed ‘Player of the Match’ silverware on two occasions and continues to do so regularly. In January 2012, Pollard was named ‘Player of the Match’ for Trinidad and Tobago in the Regional Limited Overs Competition where he hit 56 off 15 balls, including 5 sixes in an over. It is of little surprise that Pollard is one of the most in-demand cricketers in world cricket today, and that crowds literally erupt when he walks to the crease. Photo Source: BBC London

4. Kieron Pollard – The Representation • 2006-present Trinidad and Tobago • 2007-present West Indian Cricket Team • 2009-present Adelaide Strikers • 2010-present Mumbai Indians • 2010-2011 Somerset CCC • 2012-present Dhaka Gladiators Photo Source: Youth On Cricket

5. Kieron Pollard- The Reputation • “Pollard has been awesome in his big hitting.” Sunil Gavaskar | Indian Cricket Legend | 19-09-2010 • “Kieron Pollard hit nine sixes. Most of them were muscled hits but what stood out was a wristy six over long-on. There was no violence in it. It was a full-length medium-paced delivery and Pollard leaned forward and flicked it over long-on. Sheer nonchalance.” SriramVeera (Cricinfo) | 16-09-2010 • “Kieron Pollard played the sort of innings that has made him a multi- millionaire and the game's foremost Twenty20 freelancer.” SiddarthRavindran (Cricinfo) | 16-09-2010 • “I'm just so glad that he's playing in my team. He can hit that ball. He showed it to all of us on the night. We knew what he could do but last night after being promoted up the order - it was a plan to send him early if a wicket fell between the 10th and 12th overs - he got into a rhythm and rocked the Guyana outfit. It was an amazing show of batting skill. He knew what he was doing. I have never seen bowlers being mauled in that fashion as Kieron did.” SachinTendulkar | 17-09-2010 • “He wasvicious. He felt no pain in hisonslaught and itwas a kind of brutalitythatyourarelysee in cricket. He was just outstandinglybrutal.” RamnareshSarwan | 17-09-2010 Photo source: Getty Images

6. Kieron Pollard - The Press Meet Twenty20 specialist Kieron Pollard - the world’s most valuable cricketer Jonathon Liew 12 July 2011 Depending on your viewpoint, Kieron Pollard is the most exciting cricketer in the world today or a symbol of everything that is wrong with the modern game. A peerless entertainer or a guileless slugger; a thrilling maverick or a craven mercenary. In an age when the rewards for cricketers are greater than ever, Pollard towers above the field. Here is a man who has become a millionaire despite never having played a Test match, who has made his fortune on the basis of being able to strike a ball harder and cleaner than anyone else in the world. For some, this rankles. They deride his almost exclusive diet ofTwenty20cricket; Pollard has played just one first-class game in the past two years.,. Pollard’s unique gift is hitting big, and doing it from the moment he comes in. He also bowls accurate, unassuming medium pace. In a market dominated by the shorter format, this makes him the most valuable human asset in the game. Read more : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/twenty20/8632819/Meet-Twenty20-specialist-Kieron-Pollard-the-worlds-most-valuable-cricketer.html Photo Source: Adrian Meredith

7. Kieron Pollard - The Press Glad Kieron Pollard is in My Team: Sachin Tendulkar Iqbal Khan 17 Sept 2010 SachinTendulkar can't stop grinning after Kieron Pollard's blitzkrieg keeps Mumbai in the running for a semi-final spotKieron Pollard's shares on the market rose to such an extent that he could probably become the hottest property on the next Indian Premier League auction later this year in Mumbai. Having cost the Mumbai Indians $750 000 at the last auction and having paid his dues after a fantastic run in the 2010 IPL, Pollard took another giant step to show who is "king" in the Twenty20 arena.

Last night he lit up Sahara Stadium Kingsmead as he blasted nine sixes and one four in his 30-ball 72-run innings which helped the Mumbai Indians record their first win in the Champions League.

The Mumbai Indians scored 184-4 and then restricted Guyana to 153-7. But the Mumbai Indians still have a mountain to climb if they hope to reach the semi-final stages as they have a game against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Kingsmead on Sunday. 

"I'm just so glad that he's playing in my team," said skipper Sachin Tendulkar, who was for once beaming from ear to ear. 

"He can hit that ball. He showed it to all of us on the night. We knew what he could do but last night after being promoted him up the order--it was a plan to send him early if a wicket fell between the 10th and 12th overs--he got into a rhythm and rocked the Guyana outfit.

"It was an amazing show of batting skill. He knew what he was doing. I have never seen bowlers being mauled in that fashion as Kieron did.” Read more: http://www.mid-day.com/sports/2010/sep/170910-Sachin-Tendulkar-Kieron-Pollard-Mumbai-Indian-cl-t20.htm Photo Source: AFP

8. Kieron Pollard - The Press Cricket at crossroads as starlets decide whether to be globetrotters or craftsmen Tom Collomosse 27 July 2011 Kieron Pollard has played precisely 154 fewer Tests than Rahul Dravid, even though he has represented the West Indies 63 times in limited-overs cricket. At 24, he is 14 years younger than his Indian counterpart but shows no sign of being able to come close to Dravid's achievements in the five-day game. Yet it is perfectly possible that Pollard will become one of the wealthiest cricketers in the sport without playing a single Test match. Pollard, you see, is one of the most dangerous Twenty20 batsmen around and is almost as spectacular in the field. When he finds his range with the bat, the Trinidadian is thrilling to watch in the shortest form of the game, as his 137 sixes in 112 T20 matches attest. Pollard's awesome hitting power meant four Indian Premier League franchises - Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders - bid the maximum $750,000 (about £457,000) at the 2010 auction. Read more : http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/cricket/cricket-at-crossroads-as-starlets-decide-whether-to-be-globetrotters-or-craftsmen-6426506.html Photo Source: London Evening Standard

9. Kieron Pollard- The Press Kieron Pollard century not enough to prevent West Indies defeat against India in fifth one-day international Source: Telegraph staff and agencies 11 Dec 2011 Kieron Pollard's maiden one-day international century was in vain as India completed a 4-1 series victory over West Indies at Chennai. Pollard emulated the earlier feat of ManojTiwary, whose 104 helped India post a challenging total of 267 for six. Early wickets meant the Windies were always chasing the game and, although Pollard kept them in it with 119, they were bowled out for 233 with almost six overs left. Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/india/8949441/Kieron-Pollard-century-not-enough-to-prevent-West-Indies-defeat-against-India-in-fifth-one-day-international.html Photo Source: AFP

10. Kieron Pollard - The Press Pollard Promises 'More To Come' After Amazing Knock North Sound: Antiguia 13 Jan 2012 "There is more to come, 56 off 15 balls, not bad. The best is yet to come!" With these words Kieron Pollard signed off after his amazing innings of 56 not out off just 15 balls Trinidad and Tobago had a record-breaking win over Leeward Islands on the third day of the West Indies Cricket Board's Caribbean T20 tournament on Wednesday night. Pollard, one of the leading power-hitters in world cricket, went on the rampage. He smashed seven sixes - including five in one over off Anthony Martin. Trinidad rattled up 211-3 off 20 overs - the highest team score in the three-year history of Caribbean T20. They then dismissed the Leewards for 44 - the lowest score ever in Caribbean T20 to win by a whopping 167 runs - the largest margin in the tournament. "Everyone is fully aware that I'm not at full fitness but I had a job to do for Trinidad and Tobago. I'm able to bat but I can't run around in the field and dive around, and obviously, I can't bowl as yet either. I'm still working to try to get up to 75 per cent (fitness level). When I do there will be more to come. The best is yet to come!" said Pollard, who won the Star of the Match award. Read more : http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120113/sports/sports4.html Photo Source: Jamaca- Gleaner

11. Kieron Pollard- The Press Kieron Pollard's century puts West Indies beyond Australia's reach Reuters, Guardian.co.uk, Friday 23 March 2012 Kieron Pollard scored 102 from just 70 deliveries to lead West Indies to an emphatic win over Australia in the fourth one-day international in St Lucia. The victory put the hosts 2-1 up in the series with one match left to play. Pollard destroyed Australia's bowling attack to rescue his team from an early batting slump and post a formidable total of 294 for seven. The Australians, who won the toss but surprisingly elected to give the home side first use of a perfect batting pitch, made 252 in reply to lose by 42 runs as West Indies bowled them out in the 47th over. "To play a match-winning knock feels great," said Pollard, whose innings featured five boundaries and eight sixes. "Some of the sixes I didn't middle but once they get over the line they're all six.” Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/mar/23/kieron-pollard-west-indies-australia

12. Kieron Pollard - Off the Field • Relaxed, approachable and personable • Wholeheartedly committed to his team • Family orientated • Knowledgeable and inspiring spokesperson • Hardworking and appreciative • Competitive and passionate Photo Source: Getty Images

13. Kieron Pollard- The Contact • Damian Triffitt, Managing Director • Six Sides Management Group • Suite 808, 147 Pirie Street • Adelaide SA 5000 • +61 (0) 410 512 575 • damian@ssmg.com.au • www.ssmg.com.au Photo Source: Getty Images