West Indies Test captain, Kraigg Brathwaite is thrown his support behind the relatively inexperienced batting line up in today’s match against Bangladesh.
Brathwaite spoke to media operatives yesterday via Zoom where he confidently stated, “I am backing the batters, they are putting in the work, the practice game was decent and we are all looking forward to the challenge.”
The 28-year-old underscored the importance of the unit to post good totals while reckoning that this could be the x-factor for the side since the bowling department has been consistent over the last two years.
“Every game you have to take 20 wickets, our bowlers have been doing a good job in the last year and a half, two years I think it’s crucial for us to put runs on the board but we still need 20 wickets but once we put some good runs on the board that would be key for this West Indies team,” he said.
The Bajan anchor went on to add, “From a batting point of view, we have our plans in place and it’s just to back them, simple as that, being positive from in defense to rotating the strike to when you’re looking to be aggressive I think once we do that, we know they are quality bowlers but I know we have the skills to come out and get some big runs.”
With the absence of several key players in the batting division, a lot will depend on the opening pair to set the foundation and Brathwaite was confident he, along with his opening partner John Campbell can deliver.
“I think its key in any game for the openers to put on a good partnership, especially here in Bangladesh I think that is a very key factor for us if we as openers could build that big partnership and basically make it easier for the guys to come, I think that will put us in a really good position…John is batting well, I really enjoy batting with him and we look forward to the challenge,” the captain highlighted.
In his personal form however, the left-hander has his highest average of 47.7 against this opposition including his personal best of 212 but in Bangladesh, that dips to his worst among any country to just 13.
Nevertheless, the left-hander contended, “Nothing ever changes for me, every time I go out to bat I look to do well, I wouldn’t say there is added pressure and in saying that I am 100 percent confident in each and every guy.”
This was exemplified in his score of 85 in the practice match along with Campbell’s knock of 44 and 68.
The captain reckoned that the wicket looks like a “typical Bangladesh type pitch” that is dry and likely to suit the spinners but believed there is still a place for the seamers.
According to Brathwaite, “It’s a dry surface I don’t think it is going to be much different to be honest from the last time we came, I anticipate it wouldn’t be a great deal of bounce, typical Bangladesh type pitch… The spinners will feature in this game, that is my honest opinion but I still think there is room for the pacers, you know the practice game was a low pitch but the pacers still did a good job and built the pressure…Yes the ball may spin potentially looking at the surface but I still think the pacers could be an attacking option with balls possibly keeping low.”
