NORTH STANDARD, Antigua, CMC – Captain Kraigg Brathwaite believes that the key to his return to form in the second Test against Sri Lanka was a return to simplicity.
The experienced opener struck out 126 in the first inning at Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium to end a three-year run without a hundred before following up with 85 in the second inning to complete an outstanding Test.
“One of the main things for me was to keep it simple,” said Brathwaite following the meeting held on Good Friday here.
“In the first Test I batted a lot of balls and didn’t get the scores I wanted but I got some positives. So I made sure I had a solid plan [for the second Test] and supported it one hundred percent. ”
He continued: “It’s really nice. Obviously as the leader of the team you want to lead from the front so I was happy to get two good scores. ”
Brathwaite managed scores of three and 23 in the opening Test which also ended in a draw in this same venue, but then turned the page with two outstanding performances in the second Test which earned him the Man of the Game honors.
His first hundred – his ninth in the Tests that took him past 4 000 runs – saw him batting the entire first day before the last wicket to fall on a lunch stroke on the second day.
All told, he spent 8-½ hours in the crease and faced 311 deliveries in marathon pubs that have been typical of his batting method throughout his 68-Test career.
West Indies were losing wickets regularly in the first day after they were sent in and Brathwaite said it had been important for him to take possession of the crease.
“I could change [my pace] at times but for me I play the game situation, ”he explained. “I’m pretty confident that I can score at whatever rate I choose at any time.”
Brathwaite, who recently oversaw a historic 2-0 away whitewash away to Bangladesh as a stand-in captain leading up to his full-time appointment, said the Test side is still developing.
“For me, it’s all about discipline. We showed that we could be consistent with bowling and scoring runs in back-to-back series, and just take that belief to the next series, ”Brathwaite stressed.
“I think we’re heading in the right direction and once we keep that attitude, we’ll be a team to consider.”