Brathwaite calls for trust in team plan
Published:Monday | February 1, 2021 | 12:17 AMLennox Aldred/Gleaner Writer
West Indies interim captain Kraigg Brathwaite says the team needs to trust its plans and execute them when the first Test match against Bangladesh gets under way on Wednesday.
Brathwaite was speaking after the team played to a draw against a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI (BCB) in their three-day warm-up game in Chattogram yesterday.
The regional side batted twice and posted scores of 251 and 291, and then bowled out BCB for 160 in their first innings and had the hosts at 63 for two batting a second time.
The Windies got useful contributions with the bat from captain Brathwaite, who made 85 in the first innings, with his opening partner John Campbell also getting decent knocks of 44 and 68.
Jamaican Nkrumah Bonner top-scored in the second innings with 80, while wicketkeeper-batsman Joshua Da Silva chipped in with 46, and Raymon Reifer totalled an unbeaten 49.
Spin once again dominated when the regional side bowled, as off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall picked up five wickets in the Bangladesh first innings with left-arm slow bowler Jomel Warrican snaring three scalps. Reifer followed up his good knock with two wickets in Bangladesh’s second innings.
PLEASED WITH TEAM
It was the first run out for the Test side since arriving in Bangladesh over three weeks ago, and Brathwaite was pleased with what he had seen over the three days.
“I am very happy, I thought the guys got a good blow out and the batters got two chances to bat, with some guys getting some scores, and the fast bowlers and spinners getting 30 overs in the second innings,” he said. “I am quite happy that we got 10 wickets in the first innings which was good, and I think the guys are ready to go.”
The Barbadian spoke about Rahkeem Cornwall’s impressive showing with the ball, and the application shown from the Jamaican pair of Bonner and Campbell with the bat.
“It was very good that Bonner got a nice score, and I thought John [Campbell] batted well in both innings and Kyle Mayers, too,” he said. “I don’t want to single out the guys, but I am confident in all the batters.”
With the Test match just days away, Brathwaite is hoping that the team can show the same application when they face the senior Bangladesh side.
“I just want to urge them to trust their plans, it’s as simple as that,” Brathwaite said. “Some guys got some good scores, so we know what we did to get those scores, we just have to trust that same plan in the Test match.”
Brathwaite said that it will be important for the batting unit to convert its starts and good scores into three figures, to help the team to build a decent total. He is also encouraging the bowling unit to stick to its plans, and bowl to its field and create pressure, which in turn will bring wickets.