Chris Gayle’s loss could be Kraigg Brathwaite’s gain.
Brathwaite has been called up to the West Indies squad as cover for Gayle, as injury worries persist over the Jamaican left-hander.
Ironically, if Gayle does not recover in time, it would spoil a massive celebration being planned in his honour for his 100th Test, on his home ground.
The 21-year-old Brathwaite has trained with the West Indies squad for the last few days of their camp in Barbados and was conspicuously excluded yesterday from the 13-member West Indies High Performance Centre squad to face Bangladesh A in the second four-day “Test” starting today.
Brathwaite, who stroked 164 against Bangladesh A in the first “Test” last week, is also expected to travel with the Windies squad to Jamaica on Wednesday, ahead of the first Test which bowls off at Sabina Park next Sunday.
The Barbadian right-hander has played ten Tests since making his debut as a teenager three years ago.
Gayle, meanwhile, has been hampered by a back injury in recent weeks that was a factor in his poor form during the Indian Premier League. He said in an interview last week that he would consult a specialist in Germany about the injury.
The Jamaican was scheduled to arrive in Barbados last night to join the Windies camp.
West Indies start their second warm-up match of the camp today, when they face a Barbados Select XI at 3Ws Oval.
Brathwaite, who captained the HPC to a crushing 351-run victory over Bangladesh ‘A’ in the first “Test”, has been replaced at the helm by namesake Carlos Brathwaite for the second game at Kensington Oval.
The talented fast bowling all-rounder leads a side that sees two changes, with fast bowler Nelon Pascal in for pacer Ronsford Beaton and Shacaya Thomas coming in for Kraigg Brathwaite.
The opener last played a Test match in Hamilton, New Zealand, last December, scoring 45 and seven. New Zealand won the match by eight wickets, and swept the three-game series 2-0. (BA/CMC)
