BAN v WI 2018-19: Windies captain Brathwaite blames batsmen for Test whitewash in Bangladesh

West Indies will now face Bangladesh in the three-match ODI series, starting from December 9.

West Indies whitewashed in the Test series by Bangladesh | Getty Images

West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite blamed poor batting show for their whitewash in the just-concluded two-match Test in Bangladesh on December 2, 2018 (Sunday) in Dhaka.

On Sunday, Windies were thrashed by a massive margin of an innings and 184 runs in the second Test, after losing by 64 runs in the first Test at Chittagong to go 0-2 down in the two-match series, as Bangladesh spinners proved too much for them, picking all the 20 wickets by them.

The off-spinner Mehidy Hasan was the most impressive man who led the four-pronged spin attack Bangladesh, bagging 12 wickets - including two fifers in the Test.

Brathwaite told reporters at the post-match conference in Dhaka after series loss, “It was very disappointing. Our bowlers did a good job but the batting let us down. Some of the shots weren't the best. Most of the games we were 30-odd for three. It put the batting order under a lot of pressure. It wasn't good for us at all. The pitches here were a little drier. We didn't carry out the shots at the right time. We just didn't get anything together with the bat.”

He continued, “I can't blame the wicket. Some of the shot selection wasn't good at all, especially yesterday evening. The condition is a big factor. We played well at home. They struggled against pace, we struggled against spin. We plan for spin here. We had a lot of spin sessions in the nets. Mentally we probably weren't there. We probably weren't 100 per cent. Test cricket is never easy.”

Reflecting on his own show in the subcontinent, having managed only 26 runs in four innings, the skipper noted, “I didn't have a good series in India so I was looking to lead the batting. But it didn't happen. I have to keep strong and try to lead the batting in the next series. Test cricket is a mental game. Five-hundred on the board with the ball spinning on the first day. We could have had some talks.”

Brathwaite signed off by saying, “I played outside the line of a straight ball. Mentally we probably weren't there, especially yesterday when we lost five wickets quickly. We have to do better as batsmen, even myself. We can't consistently be 30 for three. We have to hold up our hand and do the job. Simple.”

(With Cricbuzz Inputs)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 03 Dec, 2018

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