During Kraigg Brathwaite’s mammoth first innings effort in Bridgetown, Ian Bishop recounted a story on the TV commentary. Ahead of Barbados’ game against Jamaica in the West Indies 4-Day Championship, Brathwaite had had a conversation with a friend of his father’s, a local umpire. Brathwaite was told to treat the game against the Jamaicans like it was a Test match. That would be, his father’s friend told him, the best way to prepare for facing Joe Root’s team. Braithwaite obviously took that idea to heart. He made 276 in Barbados’ first innings.It was a sign of things to come. Brathwaite batted for 673 balls in the second Test, the longest a West Indian has ever batted in a Test match. His first innings 160 was a disciplined, ruthless example of shutting an opposition bowling line-up down, of sustained refusal to be drawn out of his bubble. His unbeaten 56 not out on the final day ensured West Indies did not succumb to fourth innings pressure. While some other West Indian batters looked skittish and nervous, Brathwaite was serene. “It was annoying how good he was,” Root said after the game. The West Indies captain made 55 and 33 in the first Test too.
