SYDNEY, Australia, CMC – Out-of-favour West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite believes the Big Bash League starting tomorrow will be the ideal platform for him to regain his touch.
A former T20 International captain, Brathwaite was signed by the Sydney Sixers for the December 10 to February 6, 2021 tournament, and believes he can make his mark in helping the franchise successfully defend their title.
“It’s the first time in a while that I have had a period of two months or so where you can play cricket and get a chance also to catch a rhythm in between,” said the 32-year-old Barbadian, who turned out in a handful of matches for Sixers three seasons ago.
“I’ve been to a few tournaments where it’s been play, travel, play or just play, rest, play so I am really looking forward to getting stuck in.”
Brathwaite’s career has been topsy-turvy of recent especially after being axed as T20 captain and dropped as a member of the side last year.
He was then ignored in the Indian Premier League auction after representing the high profile Kolkata Knight Riders the previous season.
Brathwaite acknowledged the recent travel and quarantine due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic had left him short of rhythm but said he was looking to find it quickly in the upcoming campaign.
“[I’m] probably not right at it at the moment just because of the travelling and quarantine situation,” he explained.
“So, hopefully, I can start as well as possible but evidently I’m just looking to catch a good rhythm, and win some games with Sixers and hopefully help them regain the title.”
Sixers lifted their second BBL title last February when they beat Melbourne Stars in a rain-hit final at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
This year, Sixers signed Brathwaite as one of three internationals along with Tom Curran and James Vince, in a bid to energise their title defence.
Curran this week pulled out of the tournament citing “bubble fatigue”.
Brathwaite said despite the confidence in the camp, Sixers were only focussed on winning games at the moment and not necessarily the title defence.
“When you start to think too far ahead, titles and outcomes, you lose sight of the process,” Brathwaite said.
“They (Sixers) would have done amazing things as a unit last year to win the title so it is just a matter of replicating that. Obviously, what happened last year was very different to what will happen this year.
“There will be a lot of focus on the psychological stuff so which team handles that fares better as well.”
