Ragoonath hopes Brathwaite’s batting flourishes in new role

FORMER West Indies opener Suruj Ragoonath is hoping new West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite can flourish individually, following the path of his predecessor Jason Holder who became the leading all-rounder in the world while serving as West Indies captain.

On Thursday, Brathwaite was confirmed as captain of the Test team for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka bowling off at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, on March 21.

Brathwaite filled in as captain for Holder on the West Indies tour of Bangladesh where the teams played a two-match Test series in February.

Holder was one of several players who chose not to tour Bangladesh because of covid19 related concerns or personal fears, according to Cricket West Indies (CWI).

West Indies had a memorable tour under Brathwaite winning the Test series 2-0, a rare accomplishment for the regional team on foreign soil.

On hearing the news that CWI decided to change the Test captain, Ragoontah said, “Not particularly surprised, but I am a Jason Holder fan. I thought in spite of his (Holder) record as captain…I think he has done an excellent job for the West Indies during his tenure as captain. He has become the number one all-rounder in the world, so his personal performances have not been affected if anything it may have been enhanced with the role.”

Holder, 29, was named captain of the Test team in 2015. Holder has a record of 11 wins, 21 losses and five draws in 37 matches as Test captain from 2015 to 2020.

Holder was the best Test all-rounder in the world for 18 months between early-2019 and mid-2020. After England's Ben Stokes replaced him as the best all-rounder, Holder reclaimed his position at the top on Wednesday.

Since 2018, Holder has shown his pedigree with both bat and ball. Holder, who bats between seven and nine in the batting line-up, has scored three fifties and one double century over the past three years. He averaged 37.33 in 2018, 49.14 in 2019 and 27.13 in 2020. His bowling has also improved as the fast bowler has grabbed six five-wicket hauls since 2018, along with one ten-wicket haul. From 2014 to 2017 he only had one five-wicket haul.

On Friday, CWI named the 13-man squad to face Sri Lanka. Holder was included.

Ragoonath, who spoke to Newsday before the Test team was announced, added, “I feel a little bit for him (Holder), but I am happy that he is still able to command a place on the team.”

Brathwaite has a record of two wins and five losses in seven matches as captain from 2017 to 2021.

Ragoonath is hoping that Brathwaite can improve despite the added responsibility, like Holder did for a few years.

“Let’s hope that Kraigg’s individual performances continue to improve because he has not really lit the world afire as far as a Test cricketer is concerned and his averages, while at times he has good innings, overall his average has not been the greatest.”

He added, “It is left to be seen how the burden of captaincy affects his game and let’s hope it has a similar positive effect like it did for Jason when he took over. I hope for the sake of West Indies cricket that he does a good job because we need settled leadership.”

After being selected for the West Indies Test team in 2011 Brathwaite had a relatively quiet start to his career, but made significiant contributions between 2014 and 2017.

In that period he played 64 innings and scored six centuries and 12 half centuries. He averaged 77.89 in 2014, 24.25 in 2015, 55.73 in 2016 and 37.16 in 2017.

Since then Brathwaite has had a modest time with the bat. Between 2018 and 2021 the right-hander struck two centuries and four fifties in 43 innings. In 2018 he averaged 24.44, followed by 16.82 in 2019, 23.10 in 2020 and 37.25 in 2021.

He has a career average of 32.57 in 66 Test matches, which includes eight centuries and 20 half-centuries.

Ragoonath also said it does not matter if Brathwaite is a great leader because he needs a strong team supporting him.