THE second and final Test between West Indies and South Africa starts today in St Lucia and once again the attention will be on the hosts’ batting prowess against what is expected to be another hostile output from the visitors.
Shot out for just 97 on the first day in the first Test, captain Kraigg Brathwaite said the abysmal performance certainly hurt but he is backing his batsmen to step up to the challenge.
At the virtual media briefing on the eve of the second Test, the skipper stated, “That first-innings really hurt us as a team. We are always on the back-foot and the batsmen know what they have to do. We got to be better in both innings but more so in the first innings in terms of setting up the game. We know as batters what we have to do and we look forward to the challenge.”
In hindsight, the skipper felt they could have left more balls and find a better balance to attack and defence. However, he shrugged off any notion they are vulnerable to short-pitched bowling.

“I don’t think that is the case, South Africa bowled well and I thought as I said, we didn’t bat well in the first innings. We could have left some of the deliveries. We got to be tough in any Test team. As a batsman you got be tough whether it is pacers or spinners you are facing, and I think the batsmen are in good space but I wouldn’t say it is the pace and bounce.”
He added, “Obviously, South Africa have a very good bowling attack but I know our batters are fully capable of doing well.”
West Indies selectors recalled batsman Darren Bravo and experienced pacer Shannon Gabriel to the 13-man squad. They replaced Alzarri Joseph and Nkrumah Bonner, who continues to recover from his concussion.
Brathwaite indicated the playing XI have not been confirmed as yet and he is unable to say if Bravo would be included but said he is a “valuable player to West Indies cricket.”

Backing Hope to fire
Shai Hope started his Test career as an opener, in May 2015 against England in Bridgetown and coincidently. Brathwaite was his partner. Hope made five and nine in that Test and his red-ball career has not catapulted to the heights of his One-Day output. Now, he is back opening and made just 15 and then 12 at number three. However, the numbers suggest he is best suited at number five where he averages 50 – a vast difference from a career average of 25.87 – and has a Test-best of 147 in England. Recently, in the role of an opener, Hope produced scores of 68 (for President’s XI versus Sri Lanka in March), followed by 79 and 106 in the ‘Best v Best’ Four-Day match, which merited his return to the Test squad. “Having conversations with him, just like any batsman, to know where his mind is and how he is feeling. He is feeling good at the top and I back him in whichever position he may bat, whether opening or number five, I know he could do a good job; he is a guy that is always up for the challenge and he is pretty up for the challenge for any position,” the skipper expressed.

Brathwaite said it is about finding the right balance which will dictate the combination they select, based on the prevailing conditions.
Some former players have called for the return of Bravo in the XI and an additional pacer at the expense of spinner Rahkeem Cornwall given Roston Chase’s capabilities.
The second Betway Test match bowls off today at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground from 10:00hrs.
West Indies Test squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-captain), Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Kyle Mayers, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales.