An opening batsman is often tasked with seeing off the new ball and laying a platform on which the others can build a challenging score. West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite has been doing exactly that over the years, and remains focused on applying this approach in the upcoming Test series against England, which starts on July 8.
Brathwaite et al arriving in England
In his virtual Zoom conference with the media on Wednesday, the determined Brathwaite disclosed that he is looking forward to this series. “I am focused on seeing off the new ball and laying the foundation,” he said.
Brathwaite celebrating his Headingly ton in West Indies’ magical script in 2017
In a recent interview with the media, West Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons had called on batsmen to return huge scores, being convinced that those are critical to the Windies’ retaining the Wisden Trophy. In recent times, however, Brathwaite has not been scoring as heavily as he would have liked, although this right-hander has not really been under pressure.
“You can’t always do well. I know my role: focusing on each ball and laying that foundation for my team, and I am up for the challenge,” Brathwaite has posited.
Brathwaite and his opening partner John Campbell had decent partnerships against England in the Caribbean, and will now be looking to distinguish themselves in the testing conditions that obtain in England.
“I know we will do well; we just have to stick to our plans and enjoy it (cricket). England is a lovely place to play cricket, and you get value for your runs,” he opined.
Experienced as an opener, with 59 Test caps ‘under his belt’, Brathwaite does not regard the absence of special batsmen Darren Bravo and Shimron Hetmyer as placing added pressure at the top of the order.
“The guys here can do well,” he declared. “We have a good batting line-up, and the boys are rearing to go.”
The West Indies would be focused on taking the sheen off the new ball, and Brathwaite, the most experienced among the lot, had great memories of the last time he had toured England: he had scored a century, and had followed it up with 95 in the ‘Headingly magic’.
He thinks that navigating the likes of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer necessitates ‘holding a level head’, and maintaining discipline. “You just got to put away the bad balls,” he declared.
As captain of the Barbados Pride franchise team, Brathwaite had found his feet in the latter part of the truncated Regional 4-Day season, aggregating 268 runs. Questioned about his form heading into this series, Brathwaite declared: “Runs anywhere (are) runs. It’s not added pressure; I’m just here to do my job and keep it simple.”
Brathwaite has said he enjoys plying his trade in UK conditions, although the pitches here are challenging.
There has been some objection to his being selected to participate in this tour, but the Barbadian is determined to silence his critics.
“Once I can do my job, I’ll be happy. I’ve got six innings on this tour potentially, and I’m aiming to do my job in all six,” he declared.
The watchful opener, sharing how he developed this approach to his game, noted that he began playing three-day cricket at a tender age.
With the fearsome Jofra Archer set to play against some of his ‘Bajan brothers’, Brathwaite has acknowledged that the speedster is ‘quality’, although he has never played against him.
The general consensus is that batting is the Achilles’ heel of the Windies team, but Brathwaite has posited that mental strength is important to curing that defect. He has had the distinct benefit of acquiring valuable tips on batting from former West Indies opener Barbadian Desmond Haynes.
“Runs on the board” is the dream the West Indies are seeking to make a reality when the first Test match bowls off on July 8.
