Carlos Brathwaite has harshly criticised West Indies' performance in the opening Test against England, calling it "definitely not good enough." He suggests that the team should have prepared by playing in Ireland.
The West Indies suffered a heavy defeat by an innings and 114 runs in the first Test at Lord’s. Before the second Test in Nottingham on Thursday, former all-rounder Brathwaite pinpointed the need for better preparation for future England tours.
Speaking on The Vaughany and Tuffers Cricket Club podcast by Telegraph Sport, Brathwaite said the team’s planning could have been improved. He argued that instead of sending an academy team to Ireland, the Test players should have gone to prepare for the England series. The academy side lost both first-class games and were whitewashed 3-0 in the one-day series.
Brathwaite, known for his four consecutive sixes to win the 2016 T20 World Cup final against England, noted that while facing subpar bowling in Ireland isn't ideal, it's better than inadequate preparation in the West Indies. He highlighted that Test-level players aren't getting enough game time.
The West Indies Test squad only played one three-day match in Beckenham before the Lord’s Test, with no time for additional warm-up games due to the series' tight schedule. Brathwaite referenced Pakistan's successful 2018 series in England, where they prepared by playing a Test in Ireland.
Brathwaite believes the West Indies team is still developing its identity as a Test side and urged the batsmen to play more aggressively at Trent Bridge. He mentioned that the team is transitioning from a more flamboyant style to a more traditional Test approach, but hasn't yet found the right balance.
He also expressed concern over inconsistent selection, citing the omission of Guyanese opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who averages 32.9 in his 10 Tests. Brathwaite argued that inconsistent selection prevents players from feeling secure enough to express themselves fully and take risks.
In summary, Brathwaite calls for better preparation, consistent selection, and a more aggressive approach as the West Indies look to improve their performance in the ongoing series against England.