Prolific young opener Kraigg Brathwaite has been rewarded for heavy scoring in first-class cricket this year with a call-up to the West Indies team for next month’s three-Test away series against New Zealand as a replacement for the injured Chris Gayle.
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) announced yesterday that Gayle would miss the last two One-Day Internationals (ODI) against India as well as the Test tour of New Zealand due to a hamstring injury and will be returning to the Caribbean.
Brathwaite, who will celebrate his 21st birthday next Sunday, actually represented his local club, CounterPoint Wanderers, in a Sagicor General Super Cup match against Super Centre Spartan at Queen’s Park, yesterday.
“In New Zealand I will be looking to score at least two centuries and average above 50,” he said, noting he had worked diligently on improving the technical aspects of his batting since he played the last of his nine Tests in April 2012 against Australia in Dominica.
“Yes, my defence is a lot tighter. I have increased my scoring shots, and my balance at the crease is a lot better. My tenure at the Sagicor High Performance Centre this year has helped me a lot in terms of confidence,” Brathwaite noted.
“The constant practice has really improved my strokeplay. Physically, I am a lot stronger. I think the coaches are doing a fanstastic job. Technically I am a lot better.”
Coach Ottis Gibson is expecting a lot from the youngster. “He had a reasonable start to his international career and is one of the young players that have come into the side in recent times that has batted plenty of balls in Tests,” West Indies’ head coach Ottis Gibson said of Brathwaite.
In nine Tests, Brathwaite, who made his debut in May 2011, averaged a modest 21.35, with a knock of 68 being the highest of four half-centuries.
“He did not get the big hundreds like some of the others, but he is someone that occupies the crease very well, which is pretty much what is required for our team. Hopefully, he gets to New Zealand as quickly as possible and is available to play in the first Test,” added Gibson.
Brathwaite, who had the second aggregate of 577 runs at an average of 57.70 in this year’s regional first-class championship, was also the most successful batsman on the recent West Indies A-Team tour of India.
He scored 334 at an average of 66.80, including an undefeated 104 in the second “Test”, his fifth century at the first-class level in 48 matches.
Meanwhile, West Indies team physiotherapist C. J. Clark confirmed that Gayle tore his hamstring during the first ODI on Thursday.
“Chris will need three to four weeks to recover from this injury, and he is returning to the Caribbean for injury management and subsequent physical rehabilitation,” said Clark.
“He will be assessed continuously over the period with a view for him to be fit for the five ODIs and two Twenty20 Internationals in New Zealand.”
Gibson said losing Gayle, who won’t be replaced for the last two ODIs, was a major setback for the Windies.
“He is our best batsman in this format. He is one of the senior players in the team and one of the players who knows Indian conditions quite well. But I will always try to look at the positive and it gives an opportunity for somebody else to make a name for himself,” noted Gibson.
