Hope told to return to basics

Out-of-form West Indies batsman Shai Hope has been encouraged to revisit the drawing board and rediscover what has worked for him in the past.

That suggestion came from former Barbados cricketer Franklyn Stephenson who said he had high hopes for the 26-year-old who was omitted from the upcoming tour of New Zealand by the regional selectors.

“He needs to work hard and be meaningful. He needs to understand what was working for him when he was playing very well and he needs to be able to revisit that.

“I know when you get a little older some muscles get stronger, some get a bit worn. But I think with him, the majority (people) got into his mind. I had high hopes for him,” Stephenson said.

In August 2017 Hope made two memorable centuries (147 and 117) for West Indies at Headingley that led the regional side to a magnificent victory. They would however go on to lose the series.

Stephenson advised the talented right-handed Hope to seek assistance from someone capable of getting him back on track.

“When I saw him playing those two innings at Headingley, he had a lot of potential. But it is okay to have that in the meeting room but you got to be able to transfer that into the middle. He needs to sit down with somebody who understands, but mainly with him it is a mental thing. But that comes down to the physical, when the feet don’t move and he has really got a big problem there trying to open up on his drives. He needs to understand a little more about the game and it comes down to hard work but we know he has got the ability.”

morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb