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Cricket West Indies salutes Dwayne Bravo

by October 25th, 2018
The West Indies Cricket Board has heaped praises on the retired All-rounder Dwayne Bravo who announced his retirement from international cricket yesterday.

Cricket West Indies said they saluted Bravo for his 12 years’ service to West Indies Cricket.

The 35-year-old, who last represented the Windies in September 2016, played a grand total of 270 internationals (40 Tests, 164 ODIs, 66 T20Is) between 2004 and 2016 and played a starring role in each of their two World T20 triumphs in 2012 and 2016.

“Today I want to confirm to the cricket world that I have officially retired from international cricket in all formats of the game. After 14 years when I made my debut for the West Indies, I still remember that moment I received the maroon cap before walking onto the Lord’s Cricket Ground against England in July 2004. The enthusiasm and passion I felt then, I have kept with me throughout my career,” Bravo said in his retirement note.

“However, I must accept that for me to preserve my longevity as a professional cricketer, I must do as others before have done, leave the international arena for the next generation of players.”

Bravo made his maiden appearance for West Indies in April, 2004 in the Georgetown ODI against England, claiming the wickets of Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss. Three months later, he was handed a Test debut at Lord’s in West Indies’ tour of England.

He played 40 Test matches for the Windies scoring three Test tons and taking 86 wickets at 39.83. But it became quickly apparent that he was best suited to the abridged formats of the game, where his lower-order hitting, athletic fielding and expert death-bowling abilities made him an indispensable member of the team.

In 164 One Day Internationals, Bravo scored 2,968 runs at an average of 25.36. He also picked up 199 wickets with a career-best of 6 for 43. In T20 cricket, which he is most known for, he cracked 1142 runs at a strike-rate of 116.41 and took 52 wickets at an economy of 8.46.

 

Bravo moulded himself into a pre-eminent T20 death bowler and his exploits for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL and other franchises enabled him to make intermittent appearances for Windies in the T20 format. He helped Sammy’s side capture a second World title in the format in April 2016 and played a handful of international games subsequently before a hamstring injury at the Big Bash League and differences with the Windies cricket board forced him to redirect all his energies to the T20 market.

“I thank the countless persons who were instrumental to my success, particularly my family and QPCC where I developed my skills at an early age,” he said. “I thank the many loyal fans who continue to support my journey and who recognize my efforts on and off the field.

“I am extremely fortunate to have a career that has taken me across the globe into the most prestigious dressing rooms sharing experiences with all the recent legends of this glorious game. I will continue my professional career as a cricketer and entertainer living as a true champion.”

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