Carlos Brathwaite has been accused of insulting the West Indies team by English players after the first Test against Antigua ended in a draw against England. England’s move to end Antigua Test until the last over despite a draw. Brathwaite alleges disrespect to the Windies. The West Indies were bowled out for 147 in the second innings, losing four wickets.
Declaring 349 for six in the second innings, England set a 286-run target for the Windies. In reply, the Windies were reduced to 67 for four at one stage, but the Encruma Boner-Jason Holder duo leveled the match with a half-century partnership for the fifth wicket. Bonner was unbeaten on 38 and Holder on 37.
Brathwaite was provoked when England bowled until the last over, despite agreeing to level the match with two batsmen leveling for the Windies. Brathwaite’s question is whether England would have done so if it had been in the Ashes series against India, New Zealand and Pakistan.
‘If I were a senior player on the Windies team, I would see England’s action as something that insults us. With two batsmen standing firm at the crease in the final hour of the match, we saw that the bowlers were ready to bowl until the last over, making sure that they did not get any help from the pitch. Did he expect to take six more wickets? ‘ – Brathwaite asked.
‘Would England have done that if it had been in the Ashes series? Whether India, New Zealand or Pakistan were the opponents, would they be ready to play like this? The answer is no. Then why did the English do that against us? My hope is that if the Windies team needed any kind of determination and inspiration it would have gotten out of that last-hour game. “The West Indies players may want to prove that they are a better team than England think they are,” said Brathwaite.
English Summary: Carlos Brathwaite slams Joe Root’s team for ‘disrespecting’ West Indies