West Indies all-rounder Carlos Braithwaite has a lot of confidence on right-hand batsman Shamarh Brooks ahead of his first Test series in the UK against England. 

Brathwaite thinks Brooks will be key to West Indies' chances in the three-Test series, beginning July 8 in Southampton. 

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The right-hand batsman from Barbados got a late maiden call-up to play for the West Indies, as at 31 he has only turned up in three Test matches, in which he boasts of a ton and a half-century, averaging 34.8. 

Brathwaite recalled a meeting with the then India A coach Rahul Dravid, who rated Brooks very highly after he scored big for West Indies A in a tour match in England two years back. 

"If they (visitors) have a bad start Brooks is very dependable," Brathwaite told the BBC. "He can soak up the pressure and transfer that pressure once the ball gets older and the spinners come on. Brooks is very driven to get some big scores on this tour and I expect him to be the breakout star."

"India legend Rahul Dravid spoke to me about Brooks two years ago after he scored 122 not out and 91 for West Indies A against India A in England."

"Dravid made a note of him and said he was destined for big things. Dravid is my idol and for him to endorse Brooks just cemented what I have known about him growing up," he added. 

Brathwaite also thinks the upcoming series will be a battle for supremacy between two fine all-rounders in West Indies skipper Jason Holder and England's Ben Stokes, who will be leading his country in the first Test in absence of regular captain Joe Root. 

Root has had to leave England's bio-secure bubble in order to be with his wife who is set to give birth to their second child. He will go for seven-day self-isolation before returning for the next two Tests in Manchester. 

"When discussing great all-rounders in the world at the moment, you talk about Ben Stokes or people mention Mitchell Marsh. No-one mentions Holder, who is top of the ICC rankings," Brathwaite said. "His consistency and calmness as a bowler and a batsman set him apart."

"The first Test is set up perfectly as a crucial battle between the two all-rounders and captains, Holder and Stokes."

"Lack of acknowledgement for Holder as the number one all-rounder in the world will drive him to prove it in this series," he added.