West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite hailed the fighting qualities that his side and hosts Zimbabwe showed in the first Test that ended in a draw on Wednesday, saying it was one of the attributes of the format, which is still held in high regard.
Spinners Gudakesh Motie and Roston Chase tried to force a dramatic finish in the match at the Queen’s Sports Club, but the Windies met resistance and the Zimbabweans salvaged a draw.
“I would obviously have preferred to win, despite losing a day, but I am very happy with the effort we showed [on Wednesday] from the start,” the opener told reporters after play.
“Zimbabwe also believed they had a chance, but to see the fight we showed from start on the final morning till lunch, setting up to press for a win, was pleasing.”
He added: “I think Test cricket is great. To see how Zimbabwe would have fought and got themselves back into game and believe that they could win, and for us to come and push for victory, especially after losing a day, says a lot for Test cricket.
“I believe Test cricket is still alive. A lot of people still love Test cricket, and still cherish it, and this is what Test cricket wants – it wants people to go out there and fight for their countries and never give up. Zimbabwe never gave up in their first innings batting, and it says a lot for Test cricket.”
A draw always appeared the most likely result when adverse weather and conditions meant only 89 overs were possible on the first two days after West Indies chose to bat.
Brathwaite and fellow opening batsman Tagenarine Chanderpaul set a new West Indies record of 336 for the first wicket and enabled the Caribbean side to declare on 447 for six.
Zimbabwe replied with 379 for nine, with former England left-hander Gary Ballance gathering an undefeated 137 on debut for the land of his birth, before they declared late on the fourth day.
West Indies resumed the final day on 21 without loss and chased quick runs, declaring on 203 for five after lunch with Raymon Reifer leading the way with 58 and vice-captain Jermaine Blackwood supporting with 57.
Zimbabwe’s second innings was briefly delayed by adverse weather before Motie dismissed four of the top five batsmen to finish with career-best figures in his second Test and Chase rung the bell twice.
“The main focus was ten good balls,” Brathwaite said about his side’s plans on the final day. “With every wicket we got, it got lower. Nine good balls, eight good balls, and so on – that was the big focus.
“We knew it was not going to be easy because the pitch was still good, but it was just about putting the balls in the good areas, which we did, but Zimbabwe batted well.”
He said: “I was happy with the plan we had, in terms of the time, and I thought the batsmen did well to get the runs that they did because with the pitch and the field [Zimbabwe] had set, it was not going to be easy scoring runs fast.
“But it’s tough losing over 90 overs in a match and to try to make it up on the last day, but I was quite happy about the way we went about it as a team.”
Brathwaite said both teams gained a lot from the match, floating the idea that they needed to play each other more regularly, and felt the first Test had set things up for an intriguing finish to the series when the second Test starts on Sunday at the same venue.
“Our approach did not change because it was Zimbabwe,” he said. “It was, perhaps, a stronger approach. Sometimes you may not play against guys regularly, but we knew that they were going to come and fight.
“They do not play a lot of Test cricket, which is unfortunate, so we never took them granted, and it’s good to play against them because they have some quality bowlers and batsmen.”
-CMC
