Captain supports youthful peopleAs his side prepares for Wednesday’s first Test match against England at Lord’s, Kraigg Brathwaite declares that the West Indies’ incredible victory over Australia in Brisbane is “history”. But he’s hoping that the momentum from that January performance will help elevate a young lineup as they get ready for yet another demanding test of their resolve.
The West Indies had little chance of winning at a ground where the hosts had only lost once in 34 Tests dating back to 1988 going into the second Test of that Australia tour in January, particularly following a crushing ten-wicket loss in the opening Test of the series at Adelaide.
Nevertheless, the match was won in extraordinary circumstances thanks to valiant half-centuries from Kevin Sinclair, Joshua da Silva, and Kavem Hodge as well as crucial second-inning runs from Alick Athanaze and Kirk McKenzie. Shamar Joseph’s second-inning figures of 7 for 68 in 11.5 overs destroyed Australia’s middle and lower order for a historic eight-run victory.
Six months later, West Indies face an equally difficult task when they travel to a nation where they haven’t won a series since the peak of their area in 1988. Only three players on the team, Kraigg Brathwaite, Jason Holder, and Alzarri Joseph, have played at Lord’s before, but the captain is certain his team will overcome the challenges once more based on what he saw in Australia.
“It was a big positive for us to get a win, because it shows that we could we could get the job done,” Kraigg Brathwaite stated. “Obviously, doing it regularly is important for us as a group.
As batters, we could learn a lot from that game because we formed some significant alliances. The bowlers were then excellent. The star was Shamar. However, we caught really well, and almost every bowler gave it their all.
But it’s gone; it’s history. This is something to look forward to, along with the other Test matches in this series, but at least it offers hope that we can finish the job. All we need to do is have faith in ourselves.”As Mikyle Louis gets ready to make his debut, ayers to learn on the job
On the eve of the Test, Brathwaite announced his starting eleven. Mikyle Louis, who will open for him, is the first player from the island of St. Kitts to play for the West Indies. The middle order, which includes Nos. 3-5, McKenzie, Athanaze, and Hodge, is hardly much more seasoned, with a combined total of nine caps and 453 runs.
Nevertheless, Kraigg Brathwaite is certain that they, along with the other rookies in his lineup, are prepared to pick up skills on the job because they all contributed significantly to Brisbane’s victory.
“I think they’re young and exciting,” he stated. “It was encouraging to see Kirk McKenzie post a few fifty-score runs in Australia, Hodge record a solid eighty-one (71), and Alick gain some self-assurance in his ability to perform consistently. It’s best if they play more games. They are very talented, and we wholeheartedly support them.”
“My advice to all the younger boys in the group, like Mikyle making his debut, is don’t just expect to play for West Indies, expect to be the first to score 30 hundreds.” Kraigg Brathwaite
But as it did when he scored a patient century in Barbados to lead West Indies to a hard-fought 1-0 victory in the spring of 2022—a result that has now extended their unbeaten home series record against England to 20 years and counting—Brathwaite’s experience at the top of the order will be vital.
Ben Stokes’ squad won’t be trying to match Travis Brathwaite’s innings of 160 from 489 balls in that Bridgetown match because of England’s Bazball attitude, but the guy himself stated he wouldn’t let his opponents’ tactics rush his tried-and-true strategies.
“My general style is taking my time, and that’s me,” he stated. “Every batter needs to bat with confidence and support their strategy. We’ll concentrate on ourselves, that’s what we’ll do. Ensuring that we fight is crucial. However, each batter has a unique style, so we strongly advise guys to support themselves and their goals.”The batsmen in particular are young and have plenty of time to develop as playing Test cricket obviously takes some time to fully comprehend. Although you’re constantly learning on the job, the team is undoubtedly very good.”
With a huge inswinger that put James Anderson on his way to his career-best figures of 7 for 42, Brathwaite became James Anderson’s 500th Test wicket during his final outing at Lord’s in 2017. While downplaying his personal memory of the incident—”I remember the ball, I don’t think about it too much”—Brathwaite did note the abilities his opponent had demonstrated in their prior meetings.
“He’s a true legend in the game, no doubt about it,” Kraigg Brathwaite remarked. “It was evidently a skill in and of itself when he struck a line and length and could then judge if it went in or out. It’s a struggle to face him in England; you have to be incredibly focused. However, when you achieve success and score runs, it truly boosts your self-esteem.”
Before saying goodbye to Anderson for the Test, Kraigg Brathwaite gave his teammates some advice, saying, “You’ve got a couple of split seconds to decide.” You truly have to have faith in your eyes. You have a little more time to observe it, of course, because it’s not ninety miles per hour, but my advice is to trust your defence, have complete confidence in your ability to attack or defend the ball, and remain motionless as much as possible. That is crucial.
Also Read: Preview: England vs. West Indies, 1st Test
“I would tell all the younger boys in the group, like Mikyle who is making his debut, to go further than just playing for the West Indies; instead, aim to be the first to reach 30 hundreds in a single season. You know you have to think big. Avoid thinking too tiny.
“Believe in your strategy; we have ours. and relish it as well. as this series is always fantastic when it airs in England. And we are genuinely excited about it.”
India
