Gabriel critical of Brathwaite’s batting technique

Former West Indies opening batsman Richard Gabriel has called on Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite to improve his batting technique, saying that his current batting style puts pressure on the other batsmen in the team.

The 72-year-old Gabriel, who played 11 One Day Internationals for the West Indies in 1984, said even though Brathwaite is a veteran of 98 Tests, there were areas of his game that needed addressing.

Speaking during an interview on I95.5 FM recently, Gabriel said the Barbadian, who has scored 12 Test centuries and 31 half-centuries at an average of 33.15, was getting bowled much too often for an opening batsman.

“What has kind of deterred me from looking at cricket is when I see how Kraigg Brathwaite, after playing nearly 100 Tests, still does not know where his off stump is and getting bowled down consistently.

“In the last 30 innings that he has batted, he has been bowled about 13 to 14 times and that does not happen with a good opening batsman,” Gabriel pointed out.

He further contended that Brathwaite’s slow style of batting was also a cause for concern as it put constant pressure on the other batsmen to score quickly.

“…You are the senior opening bat and every time you go out to bat you are making batting look difficult, and if you have to make 30 runs you have to take three hours to make it.

“So, when you’re going into bat and you’re staying that length of time to reach 10, you are putting pressure on the middle order batsmen,” Gabriel said.

“When you are an opening bat and you get off the mark and you face two to three overs, you are supposed to dominate and at no time does he dominate, so that is why the West Indian batting team is always under pressure because he will bat long, but how much will he score because he batting too slow.”

CMC