BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Carlos Brathwaite says one of his aims is to transform himself into a genuine all-rounder, and plans to focus on developing his batting further.
The 27-year-old will travel with the 15-man West Indies squad to Sri Lanka at month end where the regional side will clash with the hosts in two Tests.
“I want to be a genuine all-rounder but the way I see myself selected for the team at this present time, I think my fast bowling has got me into the team with the addition of me being able to bat,” the Barbadian said.
“However, in the future I would like to, even if my bowling isn’t going well, be seen as someone who can play as a batsman and add bowling.”
Brathwaite is yet to play a Test despite being on the selection fringe in recent years. He made his international debut in 2011 but has played four One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20s since.
In the three-day tour game against the touring Australians in April, Brathwaite impressed, blasting an unbeaten 50 from 42 deliveries and snatching three for 39 with his seam bowling.
He said his performances in the subsequent Caribbean Premier League, however, had been instrumental to his confidence.
“If I look at my career from the beginning up until then and now, I think that was a turning point in the CPL just after I batted without fear and it is something I want to incorporate into my game go forward but I have to be a little smarter especially in tight situations where the team require me to bat a longer period but it is a learning process,” he explained.
“And with the help of the coaching staff, management and a lot of friends – because I see all the guys on the team as my friends comrades and colleagues – with that knowledge being branded around hopefully I learn quicker on the job.”
Though he has not had many opportunities, Brathwaite said he had learnt much from being around the West Indies set-up.
“Having been with the team for the England series and playing the One-Day series in South Africa and making my debut here back in 2011, one of the main things that I got from all of those series is that mentally the ones with the strongest minds are the ones who come out on top,” he pointed out.
“Everyone has a similar skill level – obviously some guys are ridiculously talented – but the core group of players have the same skill level, it is just the ones with the tougher minds that take themselves from good to great.”
