Brathwaite optimistic about WI chances in second Test
West Indies Captain Kraigg Brathwaite has expressed optimism about his team’s chances in the second Test against Pakistan, despite acknowledging the challenges posed by the spinning conditions.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference earlier today, Brathwaite highlighted the importance of improving their batting performance ahead of the next World Test Championship cycle in order to complement the team’s consistent bowling efforts.
“I think once we bring our run performance in this game, I think we’ll do well. We’ve got to put it together,” he said. “Obviously, body-wise we didn’t get as many runs as we would like, but it was a difficult pitch last game. Bowling-wise, we’ll be consistent in bringing the batsmen forward as spinners, and as batters, we aim to bat for long periods.”
The 371 deliveries West Indies faced across two innings in the 127-run defeat in Multan last match was by far the lowest number of deliveries they’ve faced in a Test match during which they lost 20 wickets. The previous fewest was the 450 balls against England in the 2000 Leeds Test, which they lost by an innings and 39 runs.
The West Indies skipper revealed that the team had productive practice sessions ahead of the second Test, particularly focusing on building partnerships.
“The guys had some good sessions, which was good for us as a group,” Brathwaite noted. “For me, the message to the boys is just to believe in yourself, be brave, and trust your plans from ball one. We don’t know how the pitch is going to play. It looks quite similar to the last surface, quite dry with a lot of cracks in it. I’ve played on surfaces that spun from day one, but this was the first time I’ve seen such cracks on a pitch on day one.”
West Indies will be without their spearhead of the attack, Jayden Seales, after a decision was taken to rest him due to him suffering with a niggle in his leg. The Trinidadian took 35 wickets last year at an average of 20.25 and produced figures of 3-64 as the lone seam bowler in the defeat last week. Replacing him in the squad is veteran seam bowler Kemar Roach, who last played in the drawn home Test series against Bangladesh. Uncapped wicketkeeper batsman Amir Jangoo is also included in the 12-man squad.
Brathwaite also addressed the impact of Pakistan’s spinners Nouman Ali and Sajid Khan, who have troubled both West Indies and England in recent matches. None of the last 62 wickets taken by Pakistani bowlers at home have come from a fast bowler, with 57 coming from the duo of Ali and Khan, who took 31 and 26 wickets, respectively.
“Everyone will have their individual plan (for combatting the spinners) and the main thing for me as the leader is to tell the guys to believe in their plans, believe in it from ball one and go out there and enjoy it. Go out there and enjoy it. If the pitch does play similarly, you just have to believe in your plans and do them as much as possible.” Brathwaite remarked.
The second Test match takes place at the Multan Cricket Stadium early tomorrow morning. (JC)
The post Brathwaite optimistic about WI chances in second Test appeared first on nationnews.com.