Returning captain Kraigg Brathwaite has emphasized the importance of application and discipline, especially in the challenging nighttime conditions, as Barbados Pride aim to bounce back from their opening-round loss in the West Indies Championship.
Following a 10-wicket defeat to defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles, Pride will look to get their campaign back on track when they host West Indies Academy in a day/night pink-ball encounter at Kensington Oval, starting Wednesday at 1:00pm.
Brathwaite, along with left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, has rejoined the squad, bringing much-needed experience as Pride seek to avoid consecutive defeats.
The captain believes the key to success will be managing the tricky transition period under lights, particularly when facing the new pink ball.
“The biggest challenge is starting under the lights with the new ball. I think before that period starts... it’s a lot easier, so it’s pretty much just opening up your eyes and expecting a shiny pink ball to be coming down on a good length early on,” Brathwaite explained.
“That’s the biggest challenge because, obviously, it’s normally a time with the red ball, so other than that, the ball moving around is almost normal to first-class cricket. I think the guys are pretty much accustomed to that. It’s just with the pink ball, and starting at night, it’s important to be on it from ball one,” he added.
The experienced opener, known for his patience and ability to bat for long periods at times, also urged his teammates to maintain consistency throughout both innings.
“It’s important not to give up and [that] we have a good all-round game in both innings. This group is very talented and will do very well,” Brathwaite said.
Despite a strong first-innings performance in their opener, which saw Matthew Forde, Jonathan Drakes, and Zachary McCaskie all score half-centuries to help Pride post 346, their batting collapse in the second innings—managing just 112—ultimately cost them the game.
Head coach Vasbert Drakes believes the team has taken valuable lessons from that defeat and will be better prepared, especially with the return of Brathwaite and Warrican.
“We’re really looking forward to this game, playing on Barbados soil. I’m also happy to have the captain, Kraigg Brathwaite, back in the side and leading from the front, and also happy to have Jomel Warrican as part of the group,” Drakes said.
“We’re disappointed from the last game, so we’re just going to take the learning out of the situation, and definitely you will see an improvement because the guys understand what it takes—not only to represent Barbados but what it takes to win competitions,” he noted.
West Indies Academy, like Barbados Pride, are also looking to recover from a heavy first-round defeat after suffering a 402-run drubbing at the hands of Leeward Islands Hurricanes.
The Academy squad features six Barbadian players, including left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop, who was impressive in the opener with a 10-wicket match haul. Carlon Bowen-Tuckett, though based in Nevis, is also Barbadian by birth.