Smith credits daughter for resurgence

Bridgetown (Barbados), April 1 (IANS/CMC) Dashing West Indies batsman Dwayne Smith says his six-year-old daughter Niyesha is a key reason behind his resurgence.

The 28-year-old right-hander has enjoyed a purple patch of form over the last year, which earned him a recall to the Windies side for the Twenty20 format.

"One of my biggest helpers is my daughter. I talk to her all the time, and certain things she says you study and say 'what is she really thinking'," Smith told reporters here Friday.

"But it really made me look at myself when I was out of the West Indies team for that period and just to come in and make myself count now and it has been working for me so far and I just need to keep working at it and keep getting better and better."

Smith was axed from the Windies side in March 2010 and was only recalled in September when he suited up for a two-match T20 International series against England in London.

He has sustained his good form. Last month he smashed his maiden T20 century playing for Khulna Royal Bengals in the inaugural Bangladesh Premier League.

On Friday, he top-scored with a sizzling 63 in a Man-of-the-Match performance to help West Indies beat Australia by 14 runs and square the two-match series 1-1.

Smith said his daughter had been the inspiration behind his innings.

"Before I came to the ground I called my daughter and she said, 'Daddy if you don't make runs don't come home'.

"When I was batting I was thinking about her and that conversation. She inspires me ... guess I can go home now," Smith laughed.

"It felt really good to go out there and play so well for the team. The winning feeling is great.

"It was good to do so well in front of my home fans here in Barbados. They have always supported me and I wanted to repay that faith and that support."

Though still a power-hitter, Smith has reorganised his game somewhat. He now opens the batting for his native Barbados and West Indies and as such, has become much more selective in his stroke-play.

With the recent adjustments paying dividends, he is keen on a return to the other formats of the game.

"I love opening the batting. I made the decision to move up the order and I know I had to make it happen.

"As I said earlier, it is great to bat at the top in T20 so you get use of 120 balls and you also face the ball when it is harder.

"With opportunity I think I can give the selectors something else to look at.

"Right now I am focussing on my Twenty20 and also trying to get back into the 50-over side as well. But with opportunity I am sure I can push myself back into Test cricket as well."

--IANS/CMC

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