COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, CMC – West Indies coach Ottis Gibson has praised the emergence of stylish stroke-maker Darren Bravo who made a huge impression in recent three-Test series against Sri Lanka.
The 21-year-old, playing in his debut series, hammered attractive half-centuries in each of the three drawn Tests to emerge as a strong candidate to hold down the troubled number three spot in the Windies batting line-up
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Gibson said Bravo had been a huge plus for the Windies despite the massive disappointment of the rain-ravaged series.
“One of the key things was the fact that, amongst the rain and everything else, we had some outstanding performances in the Test series,” said Gibson.
“We had Darren Bravo making his Test debut against a strong Sri Lanka team, ranked number three in the world, and he made three high-class half-centuries.
“In the last Test we saw his quality as he came in to face the second ball of the match and played a very mature innings.”
On debut in Galle, the left-hander stroked a first innings 58 before returning in the second Test in Colombo to hammer a superb 80. In the rain-ruined Test in Kandy, he carved out a fine 68 to complete a solid start to life in international cricket.
Gibson also hailed the efforts of rookie fast bowler Kemar Roach whose 10 wickets earned him the Man-of-the-Series honour.
“Kemar Roach was the outstanding bowler of the series on both sides, and won the Man-of-the-Series award and we had a magnificent innings by Chris Gayle to set up the first Test match – a match we controlled,” noted Gibson.
