West Indies vs South Africa: Kraigg Brathwaite Reacts To WI vs SA 1st Test

West Indies came agonizingly close to securing a dramatic victory over South Africa in Trinidad but ultimately had to settle for a draw due to time constraints. On the final day, South Africa declared their innings early, setting a challenging target in hopes of dismissing the West Indies lineup quickly and taking a 1-0 series lead. The declaration came when South Africa were 173/3, putting the West Indies in a difficult position given their performance in the first innings. Despite the daunting target, the West Indies batsmen were determined to chase down the total rather than settle for a draw. Their pursuit, however, got off to a rocky start with the loss of a few early wickets, which bolstered South Africa’s confidence. Yet, Kacey Carty and Alick Athanaze mounted a resilient fightback. Athanaze played a particularly crucial role, scoring a gritty 92 runs, while Jason Holder contributed an unbeaten 31. Their partnership steadied the West Indies' innings, making significant progress towards the target.

As the day progressed, the West Indies were 201/5 when the umpires decided to call off play. The hosts' spirited effort, especially by Athanaze and Carty, nearly turned the tide, but the limited time left in the match meant they couldn’t complete the chase. The game ended in a draw, leaving South Africa to reflect on a missed opportunity while West Indies gained confidence from their spirited resistance.

“Happy with the intent we had as a batting group. The guys were quite positive. We believed we could get the runs. We knew it wouldn't be easy. We had a game plan and fully backed it. Liked how Alick (Athanaze) went about it. Keacy as well, fully committed to his plans. We were up for the challenge today,” West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite said in the post-match presentation.

“There are times when you need to accelerate and times when you need to build a foundation. It's all about belief and planning. It's about believing in the plans. Alick (Athanaze) showed us how to do it and Hodge did it in England. Must commend how he went about his planning and he stuck to it,” he added.

Following the match, Kraigg Brathwaite acknowledged the challenging nature of the task at hand but emphasized the West Indies players' determination to secure a victory. He remarked that the team was fully aware of the difficulties they would face, yet their commitment remained unwavering. Brathwaite highlighted that the squad had devised a strategic plan, which appeared to be effective, particularly during Alick Athanaze's impressive innings. Athanaze’s batting performance was pivotal in giving the team a chance to achieve an unlikely win.

Looking ahead, the second Test of the series is scheduled to start on August 15 at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. In preparation for this match, Brathwaite mentioned that there could be adjustments to the playing XI. He indicated that these changes would be influenced by considerations of workload management. The team is mindful of the demands placed on the players and aims to make necessary modifications to ensure both performance and recovery are optimized. This approach reflects the team’s strategic focus on maintaining peak performance throughout the series, balancing player fitness with competitive play. As the West Indies prepare for the upcoming Test, the emphasis will be on building on their strong showing in Trinidad while managing player fatigue and readiness for the challenges posed by the second Test.