Cricket is often referred to as a batsman’s game, particularly in limited-overs formats. With runs being the currency, the athletes tasked with scoring them usually receive the most glory. However, one could argue that bowlers are just as crucial to a team’s winning culture.
In the modern, T20-obsessed era, spin bowlers in particular play a vital role in their team’s success. For the Saint Lucia Kings, one of the key practitioners in that regard is Khary Pierre. The left-arm spinner has become crucial for the Boys in Blue this season, taking on the responsibility of bowling both in the powerplay and the middle overs.
The Trinidadian, who began his Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League career as part of the “spin twin” duo alongside fellow left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein at the Trinbago Knight Riders, has called the Saint Lucia Kings home for the last three editions of the tournament. During an interview with legendary cricket commentator Joseph “Reds” Perriera, Pierre explained how he adapts his bowling to various conditions across the Caribbean to extract the best results from each wicket.
“I think it’s about adapting to the conditions, adapting to the different venues,” Pierre said. “[Daren Sammy Cricket Ground] is not a track where you’ll get a lot of spin; you will get more bounce. And when you go to a track like Guyana or Barbados, you will probably get more spin.
“It’s about varying your pace, varying your lengths. You might want to bowl a little fuller in those tracks that will spin a bit more, and on those tracks, you will try to be more back of a length. I think it’s about adapting to various variations.”
Spinners face unique challenges when bowling at smaller venues. For example, Pierre described how he adjusts to Warner Park, a ground notorious for big hitting and a difficult venue for slower bowlers. Recently, he proved his value there by finishing as the chief destroyer in a nail-biting win against the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, claiming two wickets while conceding only 25 runs in his four overs.
“Warner Park is a venue where spinners don’t really bowl, because of the size of the ground,” he said. “It’s about variations… as spinners we have to be able to bowl yorkers and stuff like that, and not be predictable, because you know when the batsman is on the go and even before they are on the go, they are always looking to take you down. You have to vary your lengths, your pace, and try to be a step ahead of the batsman.”
Pierre also uses other elements to his advantage, particularly the wind.
“Always [bowl] into the wind for me,” he said. “We use that as an advantage for a spinner. When the batsman has to hit into the wind, we tend to want that to happen, because when he hits with the wind, and picks up the ball, it will go [to the boundary] every time.”
With his skillset, Pierre is confident he can be a key contributor as the Kings chase back-to-back championships, mirroring his success with TKR in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
