Brathwaite, West reflect on “eye-opening” tour

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Sagicor High Performance team captain Carlos Brathwaite and coach Graeme West said the just-concluded tour of Bangladesh gave them greater insight into the work they would need to do over the remainder of this term.

 

Brathwaite and West said the trip had given the players exposure to what was required for them to progress in their careers and succeed at the international level.

They were speaking after the team touched down at Grantley Adams International Airport here, following the long journey back to the Caribbean.

"It was a pretty tough tour, but we are pleased with the performances of the team and we are happy to have returned home," said Brathwaite.

"Before we left, we spoke about the two aims of the tour being progression and winning.

"We won two of the games we played and the rain spoilt two of the other games we surely would have won, so we took care of that objective.

"As a bowling and fielding unit we did exceptionally well, and we discovered the batsmen needed a little more development, but this tour would have opened our eyes to what we need to work on now that we have returned."

West said he was satisfied with the professionalism the players showed on the tour and they all recognised the value of good preparation playing in tough conditions against tough opponents.

"Everybody recognised that in order to play their part, they needed to be prepared, both on the field and off the field, and nobody wanted to let the rest of the team down," he said.

"In terms of our approach and our training ethic, everything was of a professional nature, and there were few complaints from me – but it’s a work-in-progress."

He said: "This is a development programme and we have a lot about which we can think and to reflect on, and it has given me a lot better understanding of them, having spent the last month with them.

"We have played all the formats – four-day cricket, One-day cricket and Twenty20 cricket – so it has given me a better understanding of each squad member."