West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite is set to turn up for Gloucestershire this season in the County Championship. The club announced on Tuesday (April 1) that Brathwaite will be available for the opening eight matches, but it’s more likely that he’ll make his debut in their second game against Somerset.
“I truly look forward to the opportunity to represent Gloucestershire,” Brathwaite said. “I have always enjoyed county cricket and cherished the times I’ve been able to play in England. I’m excited to come to Bristol and do my best for the team, the Club and of course the Gloucestershire supporters.”
Brathwaite’s form has been indifferent these last few months, although he has managed to turn that around with a hundred against Sri Lanka in the ongoing Test at North Sound. The opening batsman will leave for his Gloucestershire assignment immediately after the conclusion of this Test.
Gloucestershire Interim Head Coach Ian Harvey felt his team would be benefit greatly from Brathwaite’s presence: “To be able to bring somebody in who has played the number of Tests Kraigg has, and now as captain, is going to be a massive boost for the guys in the dressing room. He will obviously add quality to the team now but also moving forward as a group, his presence here will be extremely beneficial for us.
“Kraigg has been on our radar for some time now. The way he goes about playing the game really impresses a lot of people at the Club and it’s fantastic that we’ve been able to bring him in for the early part of the County Championship.
“He opens the batting for his country so it would be hard to look past an opening partnership of Brathwaite and Dent but we do have a lot of quality players that will fit well around him.”
Brathwaite, 28, has made over 4000 runs in 68 Tests, having made his debut at the age of 18. He has previously had stints with Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Glamorgan in the County Championship, and this will be the fourth English club he represents. This year’s county season begins from April 8.
