Skerritt applauds departing Bravo’s ‘outstanding international career’, Gayle mum on own future


Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Ricky Skerritt has hailed 38-year-old all-rounder Dwayne ‘DJ’ Bravo on his ‘outstanding international career’, as the Trinidad and Tobago cricketer ended his West Indies career today at the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup.

Playing against Australia, Bravo scored 12 with the bat and went wicketless with 36 runs conceded from his four overs, as the West Indies lost by eight wickets. But he will be better remembered for his role in helping West Indies to the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy and the 2012 and 2016 ICC T20 World Cup titles.

Photo: West Indies star Dwayne Bravo poses with a pair of trophies after helping defeat England in the 2016 ICC World T20 final at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India on 3 April 2016.
(via CWI Media)

“On behalf of all West Indies cricket fans, I salute Dwayne on completing his illustrious international career,” Skerritt told the CWI Media. “He performed admirably in all three formats and added value to all levels of West Indies cricket. He was a trailblazer in T20 cricket and set the standard for how the newest format of the game should be played. 

“Dwayne’s talent, commitment, and dynamism thrilled fans of all ages and he was a star attraction for a generation of young cricket lovers. He excelled and demonstrated his immense prowess with both bat and ball and created a legacy of top-quality performances. 

“He will always be a true West Indian champion and we thank you for that.”

Bravo made his international debut on 17 April 2004 in an ODI against England at Georgetown in Guyana. His first Test match soon followed at Lord’s on 21 July 2004. England won both games.

Bravo could not rescue the West Indies in the traditional form of the game, but he was at the forefront of their T20 success and became one of the ambassadors for the new format across the globe—with his death bowling, athleticism in the field and big hitting.

Photo: West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo celebrates a crucial wicket in T20 international action against South Africa.
(via CWI Media)

In 91 T20 Internationals, Bravo took 78 wickets at an economy rate of 8.11 and scored 1,255 runs at an average of 22.01.

Bravo did not let himself down in the other formats either, when given the chance. He scored three centuries and 13 half-centuries in his 2,200 Test runs, at an average of 31.42 from his 40 matches while, in his total of 86 wickets, he claimed five or more on six occasions.

In ODI competition, he scored 2,968 runs from 141 innings at an average of 25.36, with two centuries and ten fifties. And there was a bag of 199 wickets from 150 innings at an economy rate of 5.41.

Aalthough42-year-opening batsman Chris Gayle is yet to publicly announce his plans for the future, he and Bravo were today sent off with a guard of honour by the Australian team.

Gayle is believed to be interested in wearing West Indies’ colours for one last time in the Caribbean before he finally calls time on his international career.

Photo: West Indies veterans Chris Gayle (left) and Dwayne Bravo embrace during their T20 World Cup contest with Australia on 6 November 2021.
(Copyright ICC/ Getty Images)

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