WEST Indies vice-captain, Kraigg Brathwaite, is of the belief that the development of the Digicel Regional 4-Day season as key to any success the West Indies may have in the future.
Brathwaite, who steered the West Indies to a five-wicket win over Pakistan in Sharjah recently with a historic unbeaten performance including a century and half-century, said the players needed to return to the regional competition to continue honing their craft during what is a break for the West Indies.
“We have a good group of young guys so it’s important for us to keep working,” he told reporters after his 60 not-out brought West Indies their only win against Pakistan.
The victory for the West Indies, was the first in 19 months of cricket and the first overseas in four years. But now, there is a layoff that could put the West Indies right back where they started, struggling for positive results.
“Obviously we have five months before the next Test series [but] we have first class cricket going on back home when we get back so it’s key for all the guys to go there and keep working hard,” said Brathwaite.
According to Brathwaite, whose 142 not-out in the first innings and 60 not-out in the second made him the first opener in history to go unbeaten throughout a Test match, was well supported by Jason Holder’s 5-30 in the second innings, and Devendra Bishoo’s 4-77 along with Shannon Gabriel’s 3-67 in the first, believes the performances of the team showed all that was needed was hard work.
“The same things you want to do in the Tests you do there so that when you come for the next Test series you will be ready and looking to win games.”
Roston Chase scored a half-century in the first innings of the Sharjah Test, while Shane Dowrich scored 47 before returning to go unbeaten on 60 along with Brathwaite.
Both those players are expected to play in the Regional 4 Day, which begins on Friday, November 11.

(Sportsmax.com)