Ice Cool Darren Bravo Calm As He Gets Ready For Battle

Kingstown, St Vincent — West Indies middle order batsman Darren Bravo was ice cool, calm and relaxed on Thursday as he put in the final preparations to face Australia in the opening match of the Digicel One-Day International Series.

Darren Bravo currently has a 32.92 average in One Day Cricket. Photo: Philip Spooner/windiescricket.com

He was quietly confident as he spoke about his plans and those of the West Indies team for Friday’s 1st Digicel One-Dayer. First ball is 9:30 a.m. (8:30 a.m. Jamaica Time) as international cricket returns to the picturesque Arnos Vale Cricket Ground for the first time since March, 2010.

“I’m looking forward to this series. They (Australians) are one of the best teams in the world and it will be a challenge … I’m really up to the challenge. You always want to play against the best teams and prove what you are made of,” said Bravo.

“I’m still very much in the early stages of my career and I want to continue and build on what I have done so far. I’m quietly confident at the moment. We had a great camp over in Barbados for two weeks and that put us in the correct frame of mind.”

He added: ”The most important thing is to play the ball as it comes. I’m going out with a positive frame of mind. I will play the ball not the names. I’m feeling good about my batting. As a team, it is a matter of playing consistent cricket in all departments – batting, bowling and fielding. If we play the way we know we can, the way we have been training, we have it in us to come out on top.”

Bravo made his ODI debut back in 2009 and has so far played 34 matches with 856 runs at an average of 32.92 runs per innings. He is listed outside the top tier in the ICC One-Day Batting rankings but is determined to boost his numbers and move up the ranking table in this five-match rubber.

The 23-year-old has been more dominant in Test cricket. He has played 13 Test matches with 1,155 runs at an impressive average of 52.50. He is at Number 21 in the ICC Test Batting rankings and on the verge of breaking into the Top 20.

“I have been working extremely hard and focussing on improving my batting. I played well in the two series away last year in Bangladesh and India and I will be looking to continue that good form. We are starting with the ODIs and I’m looking to make a major contribution. But I’m also looking forward to the other matches which follow.”

West Indies Squad for Digicel ODIs in St Vincent
Darren Sammy (Captain)
Dwayne Bravo (Vice Captain)
Carlton Baugh
Tino Best
Devendra Bishoo
Darren Bravo
Johnson Charles
Sunil Narine
Kieron Pollard
Kieran Powell
Kemar Roach
Andre Russell
Marlon Samuels

Match schedule for Digicel ODI Series
Friday, 16 March – 1st Digicel ODI at Arnos Vale Cricket Ground, St. Vincent
Sunday, 18 March – 2nd Digicel ODI at Arnos Vale Cricket Ground, St. Vincent
Tuesday, 20 March – 3rd Digicel ODI at Arnos Vale Cricket Ground, St. Vincent
Friday, 23 March – 4th Digicel ODI at Beausejour Cricket Ground, St. Lucia
Sunday, 25 March – 5th Digicel ODI at Beausejour Cricket Ground, St. Lucia