Despite a poor run of form with the bat struggling batsmen Kyle Mayers and Nkrumah Bonner are full of confidence and are raring to go ahead of Friday’s second Test against Pakistan at Sabina Park in Kingston.
So claims West Indies Captain Kraigg Brathwaite on the eve of the second Test in the Betway series as the home side looks to pull off another victory that would see them win the series 2-0.
Mayers, the hero of the Bangladesh series in February, has had a lean time with the bat since the Sri Lanka series in March.
In his last three Tests, the Barbadian all-rounder has had scores of 1, 12, 12, 34, 0 and 0. Bonner, meantime, has had an even leaner spell with scores of 0, 12, 0, and 5.
To compound matters, he was hit on the helmet first ball in the second Test against South Africa and was substituted under the sport’s concussion protocols.
Still, Captain Kraigg Brathwaite believes both players are eager to get back out in the middle and deliver the goods for the home side that desperately needs better performances from its batsmen.
“The guys are very confident and they are looking forward to the challenge,” he told members of the media in a pre-match press conference in Kingston.
“Obviously, they didn’t get the scores in the last couple of innings but the guys are raring to go, to be honest. We had a good session today and yesterday. As batters, number one to 11, we all know our jobs. The guys are really excited and can’t wait.
“The guys are really looking forward to the challenge. It’s Test cricket. It’s never easy and you got to work and you got to work hard and they’re willing to put in the work in this second Test.”
That said, Brathwaite believes patience will be key to the success of his batsmen against the quality Pakistan bowling attack spearheaded by the likes of Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali, who between them took 12 of the 19 West Indies wickets to fall in the first Test.
“We saw how Pakistan bowled and how the pitched played and they were constantly on a line and length and so as batters, I believe who has the most patience will come out on top,” the captain said.
“As a group, we have had a few chats about it and we do believe that patience is the key in Test cricket, regardless, patience is always the key.”