Saturday, 28 December 2013 00:00
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ESPNCricinfo: Dwayne Bravo, West Indies’ ODI captain, believes his bowling attack will give his team the definitive edge in the five-match ODI series against New Zealand. Following a tense two-wicket win to lead the series 1-0 at Eden Park, Bravo heaped praise on his new-ball attack of Ravi Rampaul and Jason Holder.
“There’s a confidence in the bowlers and it showed. They put the pressure on the Kiwis and helped our fresh faces integrate into the lineup,” Bravo said. “I’ve had honest and open chats with them and as the frontline, it’s important to discuss our brand of bowling and the attitude out there. This is what I’d like to see as a leader. Our bowling from Ravi and Jason was tight and precise and factoring in Sunil Narine, this gives us an advantage.”
Bravo himself picked up 4 for 44 while his opening bowlers took two apiece. He indicated that their bowling was something he felt they underplayed in the recent Test display as well as the visit to India.
“Over the past few years, we’ve always had strength in bowling and we must play to this. We made sure to execute our game plans with the ball against New Zealand and I, myself, had to improve after coming into question as a death bowler this year,” he said. “So we all knew we had to step it up. Our bowling and fielding were spot on and we still have to note that there’s room to improve with the bat. The pitch wasn’t the best to bat on but it was a good one to deliver to.”
While Darren Sammy (43*) and Lendl Simmons (34) shone with the bat, the captain reiterated that his bowling attack was one that could easily adapt and interchange among the various pitches in New Zealand. He added that while their batsmen may have a more testing time acclimatising, his bowlers were quicker geared to adjust to different situations.
“With our bowling display so far and our net sessions, I can see they’re (bowlers) all relaxed and definitely, after yesterday, the morale is high. I will look to carry on my momentum also but as long as our bowlers keep at it like we did in the first ODI, we’ll stand a great chance of taking the series,” he concluded.
