Kraigg Brathwaite makes a shockingly happy statement after losing the Test series to South Africa
Published - 18 Aug 2024, 05:15 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:18 AM
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite is optimistic about his team's future despite their loss to South Africa during the recently concluded two-match Test series.
Kraigg Brathwaite praised the young bowling attack and batting lineup but added that they needed more mental toughness in future matches.
The West Indies team suffered a 40-run loss in the second Test against South Africa in Guyana on Saturday, August 17 (local time).
South Africa set a target of 263 for the West Indies in the final innings. The home team was bowled out for 222 runs and conceded a 1-0 lead to South Africa in the series.
The West Indies have now lost their 10th consecutive series against South Africa in Test cricket. They have won only three out of 34 Tests against the Proteas.
The Windies suffered a 3-0 series loss in England last month. Their next Test series will be against the Bangladesh team at home in November.
Guys Have A Lot Of Potential And Talent - Kraigg Brathwaite
Kraigg Brathwaite highlighted the positives from their recent series defeat against South Africa. Brathwaite highlighted the potential and skill of the team, urging them to continue learning and improving their game.
“The guys have a lot of potential and talent, and they just come out and do it, they have a lot of skill,” Brathwaite told reporters.
“It’s important to continue to keep learning as batters. We just got to keep thinking about our game, finding ways to improve. It is for us to aim to do it more consistently and I think mentally, find ways to be better,” added the Windies captain.
Young pacers Shamar Joseph (5 wickets) and Jayden Seales (12), along with spinners Gudakesh Motie (3) and Jomel Warrican (8), delivered impressive performances.
Joseph claimed five wickets in the first innings, while Seales achieved his best Test figures of six for 61 in the second innings of the final Test.
The Future Is Very Bright - Kraigg Brathwaite
Kraigg Brathwaite expressed optimism about the future of the West Indies team. He highlighted that they have a bright future with both the fast-bowling and batting units. Brathwaite emphasized that mental toughness is important in Test cricket.
“I’d say the future is very bright, especially with our fast-bowling unit. But I must say, I’m very excited about the batting unit too,” Brathwaite further added.
“I really think the line-up that we have can do the job. Obviously being mentally tough is most important in playing Test matches. We’ve been asking for more Test matches to play,” he concluded.
Shamar Joseph put South Africa under pressure by taking five wickets on the first day of the Guyana Test.
South Africa were restricted to 97-9, but Dane Piedt and Nandre Burger added 63 runs for the last wicket in 101 balls. The partnership proved to be costly for the hosts in the recent Test match.
Also read: ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 out of Bangladesh as 4 teams including India raise security concerns