SYDNEY, Australia, CMC – West Indies arrived here yesterday for tomorrow’s crucial clash with South Africa in the ICC Cricket World Cup, with rising concern over injured top order batsman Darren Bravo.
The left-hander suffered a lower-grade tear in his left hamstring against Pakistan and was subsequently ruled out of Monday’s game against Zimbabwe which West Indies won by 73 runs in Canberra.
Bravo has been definitely ruled out of selection to face the Proteas at the Sydney Cricket Ground, and while he is being treated daily, CMC Sports understands a decision will be taken on his future participation in the tournament if he does not make a recovery by weekend.
Regarded as one of the finest young batsmen in international cricket, his withdrawal would be a huge blow for the Caribbean side especially with a tough contest against reigning champions India still ahead next week.
And with an eye already on the quarter-finals, his absence would see West Indies entering the next stage of the World Cup without one of their front-line players.
Bravo was replaced by Barbados left-hander Jonathan Carter for the Zimbabwe game but the left-hander never batted, as Chris Gayle blasted a World Cup record 215 in a history-making 372-run, second wicket stand with Marlon Samuel, who finished unbeaten on 133.
The 26-year-old Bravo, who withdrew from last month’s tour of South Africa for personal reasons, has had a mixed World Cup. He got a first ball ‘duck’ against England in the first official warm-up here in Sydney before scoring 43 against Scotland in the second game.
In the first group stage match against Ireland, he was run out without facing a delivery but made a patient 49 against Pakistan before limping off the field in pain.
Sulieman Benn, meanwhile, who missed the Zimbabwe game through injury, has improved and is also being carefully monitored.
