However, since his return in December 2021, he has made 259 runs in ten T20I innings at a strike rate of 118.26 and his ODI numbers are even more striking: 194 runs in five innings at an average of 64.66 and a strike rate of 97. A lion’s share of those runs has come in the last two innings against Netherlands in Amstelveen at a position where he started his career – middle order.
“Yeah, going out there, wickets falling around me… I just had to try and dig in and stay out there for the team,” King told CWI media after winning the Player-of-the-Match award. “Knowing that I was one of the last recognised batsmen out there with Keacy, I thought we just had to stay out there. We weren’t chasing a big total, so it was good to keep it simple.”
“He was brilliant coming in that pressure situation in his first innings. I thought he played exceptionally well. He kept a cool head and if he continues with that, he’ll do well”
Brandon King on Keacy Carty
Having batted at the top and in the middle, with a fair degree of success in the CPL and in international cricket, King backed himself to be flexible in the batting line-up and tailor his game to suit the needs of the team.
“To be honest, part of my strength is adapting to whatever is needed for the team. I can bat anywhere in the top six,” King said. “This was a new role given to me. It’s not unfamiliar [though] – I’m a middle-order batsman first and foremost, so I’m comfortable in this position.
“As cricketers, when times are good, you have to try and cash in and get as many runs as possible. I’m trying to cash in and feel good out there, and trying to capitalise on good form.”
Like Carty, King has also needed time to make it to international cricket, having represented West Indies in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup. So, what’s King’s advice to Carty?
“Just keep doing what he did today,” King said. “He was brilliant coming in that pressure situation in his first innings. I thought he played exceptionally well. He kept a cool head and if he continues with that, he’ll do well.”
Ahead of the Netherlands tour, head coach Phil Simmons had said that series victory aside, the approach of the batters in the middle overs would determine West Indies’ “success”. Two ODIs in, King has contributed handsomely to that success, and he hopes to take his form to Pakistan.
“Actually, [these are] very important [Super league] points,” King said. “We haven’t had the best fortunes in this format of the game, so it’s great to come away with the series win. Extremely happy and hopefully, we can carry it into the last game and then into the next series [in Pakistan].”
Deivarayan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo