(CMC) – Former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has revealed that it was not his choice to retire from Test cricket almost 11 years ago.
Speaking recently on the Beard Before Wicket Podcast, the 42-year-old said he believed then West Indies head coach Otis Gibson was responsible for pushing him out of the side.
Bravo, considered one of the greatest-ever T20 players, played 40 Tests for the West Indies, scoring 2200 runs, inclusive of three centuries and 13 half centuries at an average of 31.42. He also took 86 wickets with two five-wicket hauls, at an average of 39.83.
“No, I didn’t decide to give up Test cricket, they decided to give me up. So, it’s funny that you ask that question because my assistant coach, Otis [Gibson], is the guy who was the coach of [the] West Indies team back then, when my Test career came [to an end].
“I didn’t think it had anything to do with Sammy because I think at that time Sammy was a young captain and the captaincy was just given to him, so he didn’t have much influence, so much say over what team was selected,” Bravo said.
“So, I always tell Gibbo it was him and the selectors back then and the board’s decision. It was never my personal decision to finish Test cricket and that’s [the] God honest truth.”
Bravo said he made the tough decision to retire after he was left off the Test team for five years.
He recalled that the selectors saw him mainly as a white-ball cricketer, despite declaring his interest in playing Test cricket.
“I had made it very clear that I wanted to continue my Test journey and obviously, they had different plans and different ideas and there’s not much I could have done.
“But if it was my decision, I would have played a lot more Test matches and longer,” Bravo admitted.
However, while he was disappointed to have his Test career cut short, Bravo acknowledged that the outcome also opened the door to a different chapter of his career and one that would eventually redefine his legacy.
“It was cut short and you lose here, but I gained here. Because I think if I continued to play more Test matches, I would not have the T20 career that I have,” he acknowledged.