India vs Windies 2018: We Are Still Figuring Out Our Opening Batsman - Carlos Brathwaite

Perhaps, the Windies struggles in T20I format against India is the ideal proof for the importance of a quality opening batsman in the game of cricket. The absence of their regular opening batsmen has hurt them dearly in the ongoing series against India. Meanwhile, Carlos Brathwaite also reasons out the same for the loss.

Initially, Evin Lewis, who scored two centuries against India is subjected to play in the series. However, he made himself out in the last minute citing personal reasons. Though the board sent Nicholas Pooran, as the backup opener, Windies went with the experience.

Ultimately neither worked – Carlos Brathwaite

The skipper of Windies cited that they haven’t come into the tour with their best opening batsman, which made them try different opening combinations. However, neither worked, as Indian bowlers displayed top-class bowling.

“We didn’t come to the tour with an out-and-out opener, so we are still trying to find our best opening combination,” Brathwaite said. “There were a few theories in the first game and also this game, on how we wanted our batting order, for different reasons,” Carlos Braithwaite quoted.

”Ultimately neither worked, because we failed to get a good start. But we’re working with the players we have on tour, and it’s difficult to choose the best batting pair, but we’re trying. Up until a theory works out, it will look bad and give the pundits something to say,” he added.

Fabien Allen was a positive – Carlos Brathwaite

Meanwhile, he also wants to look more into the positive aspects rather than figuring out the negatives. Carlos added that he is disappointed with his own bowling performance and lauded the effort of Fabien Allen.

“Last game we bowled and fielded very well, but today I don’t think we fielded as well as we wanted to. I myself was disappointed with my bowling effort,” he said. “We let the team down with the ball, and chasing 195 was always going to be an uphill task, but there were a few positives,” he added.

“The way Fabian Allen bowled in the middle, and he kept the openers under wraps and eventually got Shikhar out. It is hard to look at the negatives sometimes, just need to take the small positives and go away with them,” Carlos inferred.

However, as Carlos Brathwaite said, they haven’t come with their full squad to tackle the Indian attack firmly. They also jolted with the exclusion of Evin Lewis and Andre Russell at the last moment.