West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite said his team is looking forward to a tough and competitive game against the Prime Minister’s XI at Manuka Oval on Wednesday in preparation for the first Test against Australia.
The tourists drew their match against a NSW/ACT XI last week at Phillip Oval and Brathwaite is expecting stiffer competition in the match ahead of the first Test against Australia in Perth.
“We know what we are up against and it is only up to us mentally to prepare. “Our preparation has gone really well and we’re really looking forward to this second game,” said Brathwaite.
“Australia are a world-class team, with a top bowling line-up, so we have to work hard if we want to score runs. Mentally, we have to prepare for that and once we do that, we will be fine. “, he added.
The first Test in Perth will be played with the pink ball and Brathwaite said it would be good to get used to the ball and the cold conditions in Australia.
“It’s going to react differently from the surface, especially when the lights come on, so I think that’s something we have to be aware of as a bowling unit and a batting unit. It tends to do a lot more at night, so that’s something we have to keep in mind,” Brathwaite said.
On the inclusion of Tagenarine Chanderpaul, son of West Indies legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul, in the Test squad, Brathwaite said he has a bright future in West Indies cricket.
“He’s a guy who can spend a lot of time at the crease and it’s just to push him to do that. The same things he would have done in first-class cricket for Guyana, he just has to do here,” Brathwaite said.
West Indies will face the Prime Minister’s XI from November 23-26 in Canberra.
The first Test will be played in Perth from November 30 to December 4, while the second Test will be played for Adelaide from December 8-12.
