England is set to enlist Kieron Pollard as a consultant coach for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup. Despite still being an active player at the age of 36, Pollard brings an impressive T20 track record, having clinched five Indian Premier League titles and the 2012 T20 World Cup. Renowned as the most experienced player in the format, he has participated in 637 T20 matches, earning acclaim for his strategic prowess.

In addition to his cricketing prowess, Pollard possesses intricate knowledge of West Indies’ playing conditions. Hailing from Trinidad, he will play a crucial role in assisting England in evaluating the pitches for the T20 World Cup, scheduled to commence on June 4. This mirrors the role played by former Australian batsman Mike Hussey during England’s triumph in the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Notably, during England’s challenging defense in the ODI World Cup in India, the team lacked a local expert. Managing director Rob Key acknowledged the oversight, attributing some of the team’s difficulties to the absence of someone familiar with the conditions.

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Pollard’s appointment provides an opportunity for him to reunite with his former teammate and current England captain, Jos Buttler. The two played together for Somerset in 2010 and 2011, and later shared the dressing room at Mumbai Indians. Buttler has often spoken about how the West Indies’ T20 approach has influenced his own style of play.

While Pollard continues to participate in some T20 leagues, he retired from the Indian Premier League before the 2023 tournament to assume the role of batting coach for Mumbai Indians, where he collaborated with Jofra Archer. Initially brought in for the T20 World Cup, the success of this partnership could potentially lead to future collaborations between Pollard and the England side.