New Delhi: West Indies batters need to seek consistent improvement in technique and mental fortitude, says captain Kraigg Brathwaite after they succumbed to a Test series defeat to South Africa.
In Georgetown’s Providence Stadium, West Indies lost by 40 runs to lose their two-match Test series after drawing the first match in Trinidad & Tobago.
It was West Indies’ 10th consecutive Test series loss to South Africa and won only three of their 34 tests between the two countries.
Yet Brathwaite remains optimistic about his young team’s prospects and said despite the defeat positives could be drawn from
the two matches.
“It’s important to continue to keep learning as batters. We just got to keep thinking about our game, finding ways to improve. It is for us to aim to do it more consistently and I think mentally, find ways to be better,” he said, as quoted by Reuters.
The skipper pointed out that pacers Shamar Joseph, 24, and Jayden Seales, 22, and spinners Gudakesh Motie and Jomel Warrican have impressed him.
“The guys have a lot of potential and talent, and they just come out and do it, they have a lot of skill,” he said.
‘Future is bright’
Joseph claimed five wickets in the first innings while Seales a career best 6-61 in the second innings to keep West Indies in the hunt in the second Test.
But the home team’s batters failed to chase down a 263-run target on Saturday, getting bowled out after losing wickets at key junctures.
Before their defeat to South Africa, they lost to England 3-0 last month and 2-0 to Australia earlier in the year. Their next Test assigment is in November when they host Bangladesh in a two-match series.
“I’d say the future is very bright, especially with our fast-bowling unit. But I must say, I’m very excited about the batting unit too,” Bathwaite said.
“I really think the line-up that we have can do the job. Obviously being mentally tough is most important in playing Test matches. We’ve been asking for more test matches to play.”
In Georgetown’s Providence Stadium, West Indies lost by 40 runs to lose their two-match Test series after drawing the first match in Trinidad & Tobago. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
