Win over Australia buoys up Windies, says Bravo
MUMBAI, India (CMC) — West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo says their warm-up victory over Australia has lifted the team’s confidence ahead of their opening group game of the T20 World Cup today.
West Indies defeated Australia on Sunday in a nail-biting game in Kolkata after losing their first official warm-up match against host India.
“It (the win) has done a lot to our confidence. We had a two-week camp in Dubai; we won all our games there in Dubai. We came here and lost our first warm-up game against India, and then to win last night definitely puts us in a good place,” said Bravo.
“You know Australia is one of the better teams in world cricket. So to beat them always gives you that extra boost and confidence.”
Bravo was part of the Darren Sammy side which defeated Sri Lanka to win the T20 World Cup in 2012.
The 32-year-old cricketer said that the Caribbean side, which made it to the semi-finals in 2014, is eyeing a semi-final berth from their group, which also includes Sri Lanka, South Africa, England and Afghanistan.
“The World Cup is always a great tournament to be in. I am very excited to be part of yet another World Cup. I was lucky enough to win one (World T20 in 2012). We lost in the semi-finals in the last one (World T20 in 2014),” Bravo recalled.
“For us as West Indies team we want to take one game at a time and want to obviously qualify from our group and take it from there.”
The Trinidad and Tobago cricketer is one of the world’s leading T20 all-rounders known for his effective death bowling.
His presence on the side, along with the likes of T20 specialist Andre Russell and big-hitting Chris Gayle, is expected to enhance the chances of West Indies, already considered a favourite next to host India.
“I focus on my bowling a lot because most teams that I play for in T20 cricket rely on my bowling,” said Bravo after launching a video Champion by Vega Entertainment and Venus Entertainment.
“Yes, my batting is important, but they (the teams) rely on my bowling in tough times and in death overs. Variation is key for my success as a bowler.”
West Indies play England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai today.
