‘If we get more, that would help a lot’ – Kraigg Brathwaite demands for more Test cricket ahead of Australia series

Kraigg Brathwaite (Photo Source: James Worsfold/Getty Images)

West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite has asked for more Test cricket for the national team for further advancement of the format in the Caribbean. The West Indies are slated to take on Australia in a two-game Test series that is scheduled to begin on January 17. 

It is also worth noting that the side is set to play just a total of 13 Tests in the 2023–25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. The side kicked off their cycle by taking on India, which they lost 1-0. The side’s tour of England is their only three-game Test series, with their remaining series being two-game affairs. Seeing the scarcity of the format for the side, skipper Brathwaite asked for more Test matches for the side as it could inspire the youngsters to do well.

“In the West Indies, we don’t get many Test matches. If we get more, that would help a lot. And obviously, incentive for playing Test cricket is always great because you know T20 cricket is out there, T10 cricket is out there, so it will always be tough. But I believe the more (Test) cricket we play, the better,” Brathwaite was quoted as saying by Sportskeeda.

It is also interesting to note that the West Indies’ last Test win came against Zimbabwe in February 2023, but their last win in the longest format that came against a big team was in early 2022 when they defeated England. 

I can’t make a decision for the guys: Kraigg Brathwaite

Furthermore, skipper Kraigg Brathwaite also talked of the decision of Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers to skip out on the Test series to focus on the shortest format with the T20 World Cup 2024 looming on the horizon. The skipper opined that he cannot make a decision for the other players and that their decision is up to them, and talked of the younger generations being inspired by Test cricket, rather than the shorter formats.

“I can’t make a decision for the guys, fully understood why they made the decision, it’s solely up to them, for aspiring youngsters in the Caribbean, if we play Test cricket and we as West Indies do well, they grow up seeing it. That will help to inspire to want to play for West Indies. But if they don’t see it, they will be inspired to play what they see, which is T20s and T10s around the world,” he said.