Kraigg Brathwaite has been appointed as the new full-time Test captain by Cricket West Indies ahead of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
Kraigg Brathwaite led the West Indies side to a 2-0 series victory in Bangladesh in absence of Jason Holder, who was one of several players who opted not to tour because of COVID-19 concerns.
Apart from the two Tests in Bangladesh, Brathwaite has led West Indies in 5 Tests, losing all of them. He will replace no.1 Test all-rounder Jason Holder as a Test captain, who led West Indies in 37 matches that included 11 wins, 21 losses, and 5 draws.
Talking about his appointment as a Test captain, Kraigg Brathwaite said that he feels proud and humbled that West Indies Cricket trusted him and gave him the responsibility to lead the team.
"It is a huge honor to be given the Captaincy of the West Indies Test team. I feel extremely proud and humbled that the Board and Selectors have given me the opportunity and responsibility to lead the team,” Kraigg Brathwaite said.
While talking about the Test series victory in Bangladesh, Brathwaite said that he’s looking forward to led the side against Sri Lanka in the two-match Test series.
"The recent Test Series win in Bangladesh was a fantastic achievement and I'm really looking forward to the upcoming home series against Sri Lanka and I'm excited about what I believe this team can achieve in the future,” he said.
Addressing the same CWI chief selector Roger Harper said that Brathwaite impressed selectors with the way he led in Bangladesh.
“Selectors were impressed that in Bangladesh Brathwaite was able to motivate his players to play to a very high level and create the culture we are looking to establish where the team showed a collective determination to fight and a real hunger for success." Roger Harper said.
He further thanked Jason Holder for the contributions he made to the side as a leader and added that the latter still has a tremendous role to play in West Indies Test cricket for many years.
“On behalf of CWI, I would like to thank Jason for all he has given to the game in the region while serving as Captain of our Test team. As the world’s leading Test all-rounder, we all believe that Jason still has a tremendous role to play in West Indies Test Cricket for many years to come," he said.
West Indies squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka, scheduled for 21-25 March, will be announced on Friday.
(AFP inputs)
