Let’s get the job done

There is a saying throughout the Caribbean that when the West Indies win, all is well in the world, and that statement couldn’t be more accurate now, as the regional side is riding on a high, following back-to-back T20 and ODI series wins against Sri Lanka.

It is certainly much easier to be a West Indian fan these days, following the latest achievements, which included an improbable away series win in Bangladesh earlier in the year and now a clean sweep of the white ball series against Sri Lanka.

The sides will now turn their attention to the Test series, which bowls off in Antigua on March 21, and the home side will be brimming with confidence that they can come out on top in the longest version of the game, once the team continues to show improvements, as they have done in recent weeks.

Middle-order batsman Darren Bravo, who scored a match-winning century of 102 in the third ODI, will be hoping to reclaim his place in the Test side, this after the left-hander had opted out of the tour of Bangladesh.

For Bravo, understanding his game more and seeing things from a different perspective has given him the confidence to continue getting big scores.

The 32-year-old Trinidadian is expected to get the nod at the volatile number three spot in the line-up, and he is hoping to spruce up that position for the team, which has been struggling to get any consistency from that critical one-down position.

“Every time I go out I try to do my best and take that level of responsibility as a senior player, and try to set that foundation for the other batters to come and not expose the middle order too early. The key for me is to stay confident as much as possible and try to deliver,” said Bravo.

Bravo was clear to point out that a series win in the Test against Sri Lanka certainly won’t be automatic, as he believes the visitors will be coming all out to try and come away with some incentive from their Caribbean tour.

POSITIVE SIGNS

While admitting that the team has been showing positive signs in recent weeks, he warned that the unit will need to continue to show belief, similar to their resilient showing in Bangladesh.

“As a team, we need to believe in ourselves. We are riding on some sort of confidence doing well against Bangladesh in their home country. We still need to come together and plan well and execute our game plan, and as long as we do that, we should be able to come out on top,” Bravo said.

The left-hander says the renewed energy and focus within the team has done a lot for the morale of the unit, which continues to grow in confidence. He added that the side will be hoping to replicate some of those good past performances and continue to put a smile on the faces of West Indian fans.

sports@gleanerjm.com