Ottley hoping for big season with Red Force

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Left-hander Kjorn Ottley endured a moderate last season for Trinidad and Tobago Red Force but says he is hoping for a big improvement with the bat when the new campaign gets going next month.

The 25-year-old managed 312 runs at an average of 31, playing in five of Red Force’s matches, as the Port of Spain franchise finished one from last in the six-team competition.

However, he said that he would be focussing on spending more time at the crease during the upcoming season.

“I had a decent time with the bat but I want to improve my batting average and bat for longer,” Ottley said.
Left-hander Kjorn Ottley … hoping for a better season with the bat.
Left-hander Kjorn Ottley … hoping for a better season with the bat.

“It is four-day cricket, so when you spend time out in the middle runs will automatically come without putting pressure on yourself.

“It is a habit so once you are accustom doing it all the time it will come natural. It won’t be mentally difficult because it will be a habit and you will be able to execute it and it will be a norm.”

Red Force, who won just two of their ten games last season, open their campaign on November 6 against last season bottom-dwellers Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Warner Park in St Kitts.

The Rayad Emrit-led Red Force have been preparing for the new season for several weeks now, and Ottley said he was pleased with the effort he had been putting in.

“I have been training since the 2014/15 season has finished and this year was more of a gradual build-up to the sessions. Last year we were doing more gym work and strength work but now we are doing more technical work and practice games,” said Ottley.

“My form is not too bad. I got a couple of 50s in the trials and it is just for me to get some more time out in the middle and it should be alright for when the tournament starts next week.”

He added: “My fitness is good … probably concentrating for long periods and minor technical stuff is what I need to focus on more. I don’t have much technical things to work on because we are near to the start of the tournament so I just need to work on my momentum and concentrating for longer periods of time.”