Kraigg Brathwaite is set to become only the 10th player to play 100 Test matches for West Indies when the host takes on Australia in the second Test of a three-match series in Grenada from Thursday.
Brathwaite, who led West Indies in 39 Tests, has scored 5,943 runs in 99 Tests at an average of 32.93. He will join an elite list comprising West Indies greats Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd, Brian Lara and Gordon Greenidge when he steps onto the field on Thursday.
The former skipper made his debut in 2011 at the age of 18, against Pakistan, but had set his sights on the 100-Tests mark at just 14.
“I set that goal when I was probably 14 years old — to play 100 Tests. Now I’m here, 18 years later, playing my hundredth Test for West Indies. I’m very thankful, and I just want to be an inspiration for younger guys to follow. I didn’t want to just be another player — I wanted to make an impact.”
Brathwaite’s maiden Test century came three years after his debut, against New Zealand in Port of Spain in 2014, and helped him cement his place in the top order.
“My first 100 against New Zealand was a feeling I can’t really describe. I didn’t believe that I would have been that close to a Test century, and then getting it, I could not believe that I scored 100 for West Indies. That really meant a lot and helped me going forward, to know that I can get it done. New Zealand was a young team at the time. They were doing very good things and to get it against them, I felt proud. That gave me the belief that I could get the job done.”
A few months after his maiden Test hundred, Brathwaite registered his first double ton in the longest format—against Bangladesh in Kingstown. He enjoyed a stellar run in 2014, scoring 701 runs at an average of 77.88. His most productive year was 2017, when he scored 706 runs, albeit at a significantly inferior average of 37.15. After 2014, he averaged in excess of 50 in a calendar year only on two more occasions—in 2016 and 2022.
At 32, Brathwaite is happy to be playing is landmark 100th Test in Grenada—which he considers a ‘special place’.
“Grenada is a special place for me and I’m looking forward to playing my 100th Test match. I’m very happy and thankful to be here and honoured to be playing for West Indies. Whatever it may be, from a young age you can set your goals and targets that you want to achieve in life. Work hard throughout the tough times and the good times. Stay disciplined and never take it for granted,” he said.
