Brathwaite believes the right attitude will result in 2nd Test win

CULTIVATING the right attitude can assure victory for West Indies when they face Bangladesh in the second and final Padma Bridge – Dream Fulfilled – Friendship Test match, at the Daren Sammy Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia on Friday.

So said team skipper Kraigg Brathwaite, who believes the West Indies have the tenacity to replicate their match-winning form from the first Test to secure a crucial series win.

Speaking at Thursday’s virtual pre-match press conference, the West Indies and Barbados Pride opening batsman said victory will come once his players apply themselves to the task at hand.

“The main thing is attitude. We’ve developed a very good attitude for preparation for the longer format. We just have to keep it up. Take the English series, it was well done. Consistency is important.

“We cannot take Bangladesh lightly, but I can say the attitude of WI players has improved. It’s just to keep going. We can’t take things for granted and take them lightly. We have to keep our feet on the gas and keep working hard as a group.

“We cannot mentally just say that we’re going to make a big total and then get them out. It’s all about having that focus. And keeping our attitude in the right place for every ball, every hour every session. Once we do our plans then the results will take care of itself.”

Brathwaite reflected on the team’s performance against Pakistan in a two-match Test series last year, in which West Indies won the first and lost the second. He rues the end result but is confident the squad has grown from that series.

Since then, West Indies lost 2-0 away to Sri Lanka but bounced back to snag a 1-0 win over England, in a three-match tie at home in the Caribbean, to keep the Botham-Richards trophy.

Brathwaite remains upbeat.

“That second Test in Pakistan, that’s the example we brought to the guys. It’s just having the attitude that the first game is gone and that’s history. And we know Bangladesh are coming for it again.

“We got to be on it. We saw Bangladesh pacers and spinners bowl well. We have to work hard again,” he added.

Additionally, Kemar Roach’s seven-wicket haul in the first Test propelled him to 249 Test wickets, just one shy of the elite 250 club. If he does achieve the feat against Bangladesh, Roach will surpass legendary West Indian pacer Michael Holding’s Test wicket-tally.

Also, a win over the visitors will see the hosts jump over Pakistan in the ICC World Test Championship points table. The home side are currently in sixth place with 42 points, two behind Pakistan.

Brathwaite closed, “We’re not (studying) milestones. As a group, we think about all of our team plans and if we do these well, the milestones will come.

“Going into this game we know that Bangladesh are going to come hard. So I think we’re really focusing on our plans and everything else will take care of itself.”