India vs Windies 2018: I Always Looked Up to Brian Lara - Shimron Hetmyer

The Windies southpaw batsman Shimron Hetmyer said he always looked up to former West Indies great Brian Lara. The Windies cricket has taken a downward slope in the recent past but the Carribean nation has produced some of the legends of the game. Meanwhile, Shimron Hetmyer was on song in the first ODI against India. The southpaw batsman was able to score his third hundred in the previous match.

Thus, Hetmyer 78-ball 106 was instrumental in getting the tourists to a competitive total of 322 runs. Hetmyer was able to play his natural game and scored six sixes and as many fours in his blistering knock. The left-hander was not able to deliver the goods in Test series. However, a change in format led to a change in fortunes for the Windies batsman.

Hetmyer was able to take Indian bowlers to cleaners.

Hetmyer said he looked up to Brian Lara. However, he accepted that he is a natural shot maker. In fact, the same was on display in Guwahati when Hetmyer was able to time the ball to perfection.

“I did look up to Brian Lara when I used to watch cricket, but most of it (shots) comes naturally to me. I am a natural stroke-player and try to play each ball on merit,” Hetmyer said during a chat after a training session.

The left-handed batsman went on to add that he has had a chat with a few legends of Windies cricket. Shimron said the former greats have told him to play his natural game.

Advice is to play the Natural game.

“I have spoken to a few legends in the past, they are quite fun actually, easy going – Lance Gibbs, Sir Viv Richards and Brian Lara. Some of the other stars, too. Knowing that they are backing you makes me feel good,” he said.

“They tell me to be ‘just be yourself’, they give suggestions like play each ball on merit and all. They try to help in every way possible, make it as easy as possible for us and encouraging us to keep pushing,” he added.

Hetmyer said he tried to get over his failures of the Test series where he failed to impress with the bat. Thus, he said the senior players of the team told him to focus on the forthcoming matches.

“I had a bad Test series, it was not one of the best ways to start a series in India but from there on I tried to forget about that as much as possible and the senior guys helped. They said don’t worry and look forward to the next game,” he said.

“I have quite a few experienced guys to lean on, to know how it was before, even the coach (Stuart Law) who has played for Australia. How much of the big change has happened from then to now? How they played their game,” he added.

Hetmyer responds to Harbhajan Singh’s praise.

What an inn by #Hetmyer..he is gonna be a next million dollar baby in the @IPL 2019 #INDvsWI 1st ODI

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 21, 2018

Meanwhile, India’s off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has predicted Shimron Hetmyer can get a million dollar deal in the next season of the IPL. The left-hander is happy to receive such high praise from Harbhajan.

“It’s a good feeling to know that one of the great spinners from India has rated me that high. It is a dream of mine but right now I am taking one step at a time, so I would see what awaits. Right now, I am focused on representing the West Indies,” he said.