A sense of belonging - Darren Bravo cuts on debut. Brooks La Touche Photography/DigicelCricket.com
International captains, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Chris Gayle, were impressed with West Indies debutant, Darren Bravo, after the First Digicel ODI at Sabina Park on Friday.
“He’s good. He will improve, the more international cricket he plays the better for him,” said Dhoni after the game which his side won by 20 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the four match Digicel Series.
And Gayle said that the young batsman seemed to fit in on the international scene quite well, crediting his older brother Dwayne for keeping the 20 year old calm.
“He didn’t show any form of nerves, being around his brother actually calmed him down a bit. He did well batting and in the outfield as well and hopefully he can get a bigger score if the opportunity comes across him again,” Gayle said of his most recent charge.
Batting at number six, Bravo made a brisk 19 from 16 deliveries after a half hour spell at the crease when the West Indies team was trying to dig itself out of a hole in chasing the formidable 340 posted by India. Bravo struck his first two deliveries in international cricket for boundaries and then impressed with flowing shots on both sides of the wicket before he fell attempting to reverse the mounting required run rate.
Darren who went to the crease after his brother was out, put on 36 from 23 deliveries with top scorer, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, for the 5th wicket until the latter was out also up trying to up the ante.
Dhoni hinted that Bravo looked like a potential match winner and made what appeared to be a veiled call for the West Indies selectors and team management to allow him more opportunities to settle into international cricket.
“I personally feel youngsters need to spend some time, it’s up to the board and selectors and captain to give them that time,” Dhoni advised.
“Most of the players who play at the international level have the talent - it’s just that some players get more backing than others. Some are considered match winners and often match winners are given more time compared to others,” the Indian captain asserted as he responded to a direct question about Bravo’s initial outing.
He said though that it is easier for young players to be groomed on the international stage when they are in a winning outfit.
“At times, it becomes very difficult. It’s easy when your team is doing well, you can really push that player in. I think it is up to the selectors to groom a player,” Dhoni reasoned.
And when Gayle was asked about the much talked about similarities with multiple world record holder and former West Indies captain, Brian Lara, he said there were some obvious similarities.
“There is some sort of batting technique (similarity), some lookalike, Brian may be his idol,” Gayle said.
The Trinidadian siblings are sons of Morgan Bravo but they have different mothers; Darren’s mother being Lara’s second cousin.
The Second Digicel ODI is slated for Sunday June 28th before the series moves to the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St Lucia for the final two Digicel ODIs.
