KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Captain Kieron Pollard has described Sunday’s series defeat to Ireland as a “bitter pill to swallow” and has warned there will be no quick fix to the issues plaguing the embattled one-day side.

West Indies crashed to a disappointing two-wicket defeat in the third One-Day International at Sabina Park, failing to defend 212 after being asked to bat first for the third straight time in the series.

The defeat was only their third in ODIs to Ireland and marked their first-ever series loss to their number 12-ranked opponents.

“It’s very, very disappointing. It’s a bitter pill to swallow,” Pollard said following the loss.

“I think overall when you look back over the latter part of 2021 and throughout 2021 into 2022, I think overall we have a batting problem in the Caribbean in getting runs on the board. We can’t hide from that.

“The quality we have – we’re trying to work with, but in all honesty, I don’t think we’ve been up to standard within the last few months,” he stated.

West Indies won the opening ODI by 24 runs but needed a late burst from their bowlers to peg Ireland back to 245 after they were well placed at 165 for one in pursuit of 269.

Subsequently hit by three COVID-19 cases which ruled out two key players for the second ODI, Ireland still found the tenacity to level the series with a five-wicket victory in a rain-marred affair on Thursday.

Despite the mediocre top-order batting which plagued the hosts throughout the series, Pollard said he had no reason to question the commitment of players.

“I can say [the desire is there]. I can’t fault the guys in their work ethic … I see a difference within the dressing room from a training perspective – guys trying to get better,” he contended.

“Again, it’s not going to happen overnight and it’s unfortunate we’re in a situation whereas we’re in a result-oriented sort of business so we have to try to mix both, and at present, we’re actually struggling with that.”

He added: “It’s a matter of us putting our heads together [and] finding the right combination. Getting rid of one or two individuals is not going to change it because different persons may come in and it might be the same.

“We need to really sit down and put our heads together and think seriously about where we want to take West Indies cricket forward.”

Pollard was quick to praise his bowling group, however, arguing the batsmen had not posted the quality of totals that were easy to defend.

And after watching left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein lead the attack with six wickets, Pollard highlighted the absence of a genuine strike bowler.

“From a bowling perspective, the guys can only come out and defend what we have on the board. Even from a perspective of defending [269] and [229] and 212 today, I think the guys worked their backsides off to try to get wickets,” Pollard said.

“Obviously the wicket flattened out a bit in the second half and we had to work a little bit harder so from that aspect, I think we have some guys we can actually work with. In terms of [those] wicket-taking, strike bowlers I think that’s something we’re lacking so again, there are a couple of things that we need to find.”

He continued: “Yes, we are the faces because we play on the field but I think there’s a holistic sort of approach that needs to take place in order for these things to go forward. It’s not just us.”