BRATHWAITE...We need to end this year strong, especially with a lot of Test cricket coming next year.
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite is relishing the opportunity to lead the Caribbean side into his 86th-consecutive Test match as they aim to complete a clean sweep of the two-match series against Bangladesh in Jamaica.
With the hosts 1-0 up following a 201-run win in Antigua, the stakes are high heading into the second Test at Sabina Park, and Brathwaite emphasized the importance of ending the year on a positive note, both for the team and himself as a batsman.
“Obviously, a completely different ground, and the surface has a bit of grass, which is good to see. Obviously, a lot of moisture around, a lot of rain. So we got to start fresh this game,” he said in an interview ahead of Saturday’s first day.
The Sabina Park pitch, known for its pace and bounce, offers a fresh challenge for Brathwaite’s bowlers, who excelled in Antigua, as the five-prong pace attack ran amok through Bangladesh’s batting line-up. He believes it is another opportunity for his pacers to shine, but stressed the need for discipline across all departments.
Spinner Jomel Warrican has been added to the squad, giving the team a 12-man roster to choose from for the final eleven.
“I have full confidence in all the fast bowlers we have. All these guys have different attributes, and I’m really excited about what the future holds for this bowling group,” Brathwaite said.
“As I said, the covering of the grass on the surface is good. But at the end of the day, it is not just the surface. You got to go out there and bowl well, take the catches, and bat well to put runs on the board,” he noted.
Brathwaite, who has fond memories of leading the West Indies to victory against Pakistan at Sabina Park in 2021, described the venue as a special place for him and the team.
“Jamaica is a place that I love, and personally, as a West Indies group, we love to play here. I remember, obviously, a great partnership to win us the game against Pakistan, but the bowlers really enjoy bowling here as well,” Brathwaite shared.
The West Indies have not won a Test series all year, and Brathwaite is determined to end 2024 on a high note. The West Indies currently sit in eighth position on the ICC Test Championship standings, just above Bangladesh and behind seventh-placed Pakistan, whom they will cross swords with next.
“It’s very important. You can’t ever take any Test match or Test series for granted. We need to end this year strong, especially with a lot of Test cricket coming next year. The first Test is history; we’ve got to come and start right back over as a bowling unit and a batting unit,” the captain stressed.
That said, the Barbadian also views this series as an opportunity to recapture his best form with the bat, especially as he celebrates the significant milestone of 86 consecutive Test matches for the West Indies, the most by any player in the team’s history.
“It’s very important for me. My role is to set that foundation and make it easier for the guys to come in. That’s always the aim,” he said.
“I’m very honoured and privileged to be here. Very thankful. It’s an opportunity I’ve had for over 10 years, and I’m very thankful for it. To be the most is good. I just want to be an example for guys to follow, and I’m really excited about it,” Brathwaite ended.
Sherdon Cowan is a five-time award-winning journalist with 10 years' experience covering sports.
“Don’t want to be stuck at First-Class level”- In form Jangoo hopes mindset shift can propel him to highest level
Cricket is one of the most unforgiving sports on the planet and every batsman dreams of a purple patch where every time they take the crease, they get a significant score or close to it.
That description is apt for the 2024 regional cricket season of Trinidadian wicketkeeper/batsman Amir Jangoo.
The 27-year-old left hander enjoyed a career year in both the West Indies Championship and the recently concluded CG United Super50 Cup that has a lot of West Indian fans calling for his graduation into the set up of the Men in Maroon.
In his five matches in the West Indies Championship which took place from February to April earlier this year, Jangoo played in five out of seven matches for the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force.
In those five games, Jangoo made exactly 500 runs in eight innings. Included in those runs are a pair of fifties and his maiden First-Class hundred, 218 against the Combined Campuses and Colleges in the penultimate round of the tournament.
This was after a score of 93 in the previous round against the Guyana Harpy Eagles.
On the back of that form, Jangoo set some lofty goals for himself in the recently concluded CG United Super50 Cup at home in Trinidad & Tobago.
“I had a few conversations with Sunil Narine talking about goal-setting. I wanted 350 runs and he said no, go for 450,” Jangoo said in an interview during the Super50.
He just missed out on that 450, finishing with 446 runs in seven innings at an average of 89.20 with one hundred and three fifties.
Interestingly, Jangoo’s 111 against Guyana, his first List A hundred, came on the back of scores of 96 against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes and 70* against the West Indies Academy.
“It was a bit of déjà vu,” Jangoo said of getting a milestone hundred quickly after missing out soon before.
“I knew that I was batting really well and a big score was around the corner again. It’s all about starting over,” he added.
Overall, Jangoo is pleased to finally have two regional hundreds under his belt.
“It’s an amazing feeling. It’s always played on my mind mentally so, to get past that hurdle is an amazing feeling. I’m grateful for it,” he said.
So, the question remains: what is behind this run of good form for Jangoo?
“It is a challenge but at the end of the day, I think something that changed with me and has taken me throughout my career, so far, is setting my standard higher for myself now to go on to the next level,” Jangoo offered.
“I really want to play for the West Indies and don’t want to be stuck at the First-Class level alone so it’s all about having your standards really high and that’s what I’m doing for all these tournaments now,” he added.
Jangoo mentioned changes in his training regime that have helped him physically and mentally but, in order to make it to the top level, he knows what matters most.
“It’s all about putting the numbers on the board. At this stage of my career, that’s all I’m focused on doing now,” he said.
CPL supports youth-focused Charities in Trinidad and Tobago with US$20,000 donation
The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has pledged a US$20,000 donation to benefit two Trinidad and Tobago charities, Rainbow Rescue and the Caribbean Kids and Families Therapy Organisation (CKFTO).
Those funds will be split equally between the two organizations, both of which focus on improving the lives of young people in the country.
According to a CPL statement released on Friday, the charities were selected after discussions with Trinidad and Tobago President Christine Kangaloo, who highlighted the significant impact both organizations have on the lives of vulnerable youth.
Rainbow Rescue, founded in 1999 by Judy Wilson, serves as a refuge for socially displaced boys aged 10 to 18. The organization was created in response to the growing number of boys living on the streets, driven there by poverty, family breakdown, and abuse.
As such, CPL’s donation will aid Rainbow Rescue in its mission to provide a safe and supportive environment for these at-risk youth.
CKFTO, on the other hand, offers therapeutic services for children with special needs, aiming to empower families and foster an inclusive society. By providing professional and compassionate support, CKFTO works to ensure that children with disabilities and their families have access to the resources they need to thrive.
CPL’s CEO, Pete Russell, expressed the league’s pride in supporting the efforts of both Rainbow Rescue and CKFTO, as this donation underscores their broader commitment to fostering positive change in communities across the Caribbean.
“At the CPL, we are committed to looking for opportunities to support young people across the region through the magic of sport, and we are pleased that we can both contribute and shine a light on the amazing work these charities do for young people,” said Russell.
“We very much hope that this is the start of a long-term relationship with both organizations and are pleased that by donating to both charities, we are also supporting the President’s agenda of helping young people in need across TT,” he added.
Stubbs, Bavuma tons put Proteas on the brink of Sri Lanka victory
Tristan Stubbs and captain Temba Bavuma scored centuries on the third day as South Africa are now five wickets away from an imposing win over Sri Lanka in the first Test.
Resuming on 132-3, Stubbs and Bavuma built a 249-run fourth-wicket partnership for the hosts at Kingsmead with the former scoring his second Test ton in 183 balls before being bowled by Vishwa Fernando (2-64) for 122.
Bavuma departed for 113, trapped leg before wicket by Asitha Fernando (1-54) in the last ball before tea as the Proteas immediately declared at 366-5.
Sri Lanka, who capitulated to 42 all out in the first innings for their lowest-ever Test score, started poorly again as they chased a target of 516 set by their opponents.
Kagiso Rabada sent back opener Dimuth Karunaratne (four) early while Marco Jansen, who got 7-13 in the first innings, collected the wickets of Angelo Mathews (25) and Kamindu Mendis (10).
Rabada then bagged his second by dismissing Prabath Jayasuriya, leaving Sri Lanka at 103-5 at stumps and needing 413 runs, with Dinesh Chandimal (29 not out) and Dhananjaya de Silva (zero not out) at the crease when play resumes.
Data Debrief: Bavuma finally converts
South Africa skipper Bavuma needed 202 balls to bring up only his third century in the 60th Test match of his career.
The 34-year-old has developed a reputation for failing to convert his half-centuries into bigger scores, registering just 22 scores of 50 or more in Test cricket.
Bavuma scored his maiden Test ton (102*) against England in Cape Town in 2016, before his second (172) against West Indies in Johannesburg last year.
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