HPC needed to help next generation of West Indian cricketers

THE High Performance Centre (HPC) was an important part of West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite’s pathway to the senior team and success.

The opening batsman, who had marathon stints in the middle with the bat, said he went from the High Performance Centre (HPC) straight into Test cricket.

Brathwaite was speaking about the importance of having a set-up that would help the next generation of players reach their goals.

He mentioned that though he had been training all his career, when he reached the HPC it was a different type of intensity and the region needs to get back one.

The players need the support and to follow a regime, so they can get there as a group.

Brathwaite has goals of carrying his bat in two innings once again and someday reaching 100 Test matches. Though the second goal he is taking it one game at a time.

Playing Test cricket can be “so mentally draining at times as it is tough mentally,” he said.

Brathwaite added that he enjoys the grind as an opening batsman and playing long periods – knowing which balls to attack, which ones to defend and for him playing the ball as late as possible.

He also enjoys the battle after fielding for long periods and then having to go out to bat to see out the day, knowing that in the hour left the battle is more mental.

The team-oriented captain said that recently, he enjoyed knowing his Test team’s bowling unit could put their feet up in the dressing room for long periods as the regional side had gone through some years struggling with the bat.

“It is a big step as a batting group.”

Happy with the number of games played at the regional domestic level in 4-day cricket, Brathwaite said that adding a best-of-the-best series at the end tournament would help to further enhance the players.

However, he believes that a regional T20 tournament is needed in addition to the CPL T20. There are many players throughout the region who do well in their local domestic tournaments, but never get to play T20 at the CPL.

The addition of the regional T20 would give more players the opportunity to showcase their skills and talents, giving them the opportunity to get into the CPL or higher.

Brathwaite, who has not played limited overs for the West Indies since 2017, said he loves all forms of cricket and would someday like to play limited-overs cricket for the senior team, but acknowledged he has not had the opportunity to play in either the 50-over or 20-over format for Barbados recently. (CG)