Believe in yourself: James says CPL stint is a confidence boosting experience

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Kofi James
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By Neto Baptiste

National and Leeward Islands cricketer Kofi James said his first stint in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has helped to boost his confidence and self-belief that he can be dominant at the highest level.

James made his CPL debut for the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots against the Guyana Amazon Warriors on August 24 when he came on as a concussion substitute in St Kitts. He made seven runs, hitting a huge six before he was bowled by Motie.

He then featured against the Trinbago Knight Riders on August 27, bowling one over for 11 runs. James did not bat in that contest.

“Believe in yourself and have confidence because watching CPL over the years, you’d say to yourself that these players are so good, but when you get there you realise that you can be like that, too. When you see the different skills, the different talents and you would have played with some of these players already and they are doing well so [you] can do well also. Just believe in yourself, back yourself; I saw it in a lot of the players where they just backed themselves and play with confidence,” he said. 

For the all-rounder, the hardest part was adapting to his new teammates.

“It’s a bit different than usual, so it’s something you really have to adapt to and get accustomed to. You don’t have a lot of time as a newbie, so it’s a bit different. There are not [many] familiar faces that you’re accustomed to play with so you have to learn different players in terms of what they like or don’t like, the coaches [also], so it’s a whole new set-up,” James said.

The Liberta Blackhawks player credited the Cool & Smooth T20 Explosion for giving him the exposure required to impress scouts and coaches within the CPL.

“Believe it or not, a lot of players, coaches, scouts actually watch the Cool & Smooth, so the Cool & Smooth is actually a big stuff for a lot of scouts and players. If you do well in the Cool & Smooth you will be known and recognised, so you can say it’s like the next step; it is a big plus,” he said.

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots won only one of their 10 matches to finish the preliminary round of the tournament at the bottom of the table with four points.

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