Brathwaite ready to end 32-year drought against Proteas

TRINIDAD (CMC):

WEST INDIES Test skipper Kraigg Brathwaite is hoping that the regional team can utilise its home advantage when they take on South Africa in the first of two Test matches, starting today at the Queen’s Park Oval.

With the Windies coming off a tough 3-0 series whitewash against England last month, they will now turn their attention to a Proteas side that they have not defeated in a Test series since 1992.

However, Brathwaite said he believed the familiar conditions give his side the upper hand.

“It’s obviously different because we played England away from home and now we’ve come back home where we are a bit more familiar with, so that’s one thing in terms of home advantage,” Brathwaite said during a press conference yesterday.

“We’re still playing against an international team, so we still have to do the basics right, but being familiar with the conditions is a plus, but we still have to go out there and execute our plans. We’re 100 per cent behind the boys and giving them the support they need to get the job done.

“…England is never an easy place to play, albeit the last two games the pitches were quite good for batting, but we had three intense Test matches and are coming back home to play against a good South Africa Test team,” he added.

Despite not having beaten the Proteas in a Test series in more than three decades, Brathwaite said he was still confident the West Indies would emerge victorious.

“I’m confident in this team. It will be hard work, Test cricket is always hard work, but I believe in this group and we just have to believe in ourselves as batters and as a bowling unit we just have to be disciplined.

“I think that’s one of the main things and once we do that it makes things a lot easier with the ball and then with the bat, you just have to believe in yourself and go out there and execute,” Brathwaite said.

The Windies’ captain revealed that Leeward Islands’ top-order batsman Keacy Carty was set to make his debut in the opening Test.

And while he admitted that the team would miss the services of speedster and vice-captain Alzarri Joseph, who has been rested for the series, Brathwaite said the return of fast bowler Kemar Roach, who missed the tour of England would be a boost.

“If you look at the ‘A’ teams of recent, Carty was the number three, so we’re basically just going based off of that. Obviously, he also did good for the Leewards as well, he’s played international cricket, albeit in white ball, so he pretty much comes in to make his debut in this Test match.

“Alzarri will be missed, but we have guys who are very capable of doing well, so it’s good that he gets his rest and I know he will come back even stronger,” Brathwaite said.