AUS vs WI: "West Indies Don't Get Many Test Matches" - Kraigg Brathwaite Pleads For More Tests

West Indies was once a force to reckon with in Test cricket and they were the best team in the world but the current situation suggests that they need a major reconstruction starting from the grassroots level to improve their stature in Test Cricket. According to Caribbean skipper Kraigg Brathwaite, the obvious first step to restore West Indies to their former Test status will be to give them more Test matches to play.

Kraigg Brathwaite will be leading the Caribbean side in the two-match Test series starting on January 17. The first Test between Australia and West Indies will be played in Adelaide whereas the second Test will be played at The Gabba in Brisbane. West Indies is currently seventh on the WTC table with a PCT of just 16.67. However, they are ahead of England and Sri Lanka currently.

A batch of Caribbean senior players including former skipper Jason Holder and all-rounder Kyle Mayers opted out of the Australian tour. Instead, they chose to play in cashed-up T20 leagues around the world. Kraigg Brathwaite doesn’t blame them for their choices and fully understands why they made such a decision but instead blames another factor.

“In the West Indies, we don’t get many Test matches. If we get more … that would help a lot. And obviously, the incentive for playing Test cricket is always great because you know T20 cricket is out there, and T10 cricket is out there, so it will always be tough. But I believe the more (Test) cricket we play, the better.”

Kraigg Brathwaite reckons that if they play more Test cricket and do well in the longer format then the young kids watching them will grow up inspired to play for West Indies but if they don’t see much of it, they will inspired to play T20s which they see all the time.

“For aspiring youngsters in the Caribbean if we play Test cricket and we as West Indies do well, they grow up seeing it. That will help to inspire them to want to play for West Indies. But if they don’t see it, they will be inspired to play what they see which is T20s and T10s around the world.”

West Indies need to focus more on the longer formats and have players that dedicate their time to the team rather than playing in T20 leagues. It was shocking to see them not being a part of the ICC Cricket World Cup for the first time. They were the champions in the first two editions of the ODI World Cups.