The West Indies all-rounder solution: Carlos Brathwaite

The major moment of the IPL auction came when the Delhi Daredevils snapped up Carlos Brathwaite. However, this wasn’t just any sale. The auction for the 27-year old Barbados native saw many a team submit substantial bids for Brathwaite. While a shocked auctioneer Richard Madeley received the bids, Indian cricket fans at home pulled out their smartphones. The Delhi Daredevils fans, in particular, jumped off their seats in excitement. Although I don’t have the official figures, the name ‘Carlos Brathwaite’ was keyed numerous times each second in Google.

The world watched on as a completely unknown player was drafted, for good bucks, into the cash-rich IPL. However, heads around the world turned when he was drafted into the World T20 squad. Not many outside the Caribbean had seen him play. Better yet, he was a make shift change for a West Indies side lacking in the all-rounder department.

Carlos Brathwaite’s international career has been an intermittent series of featuring in and out of the side. Initially brought in as an all-rounder in 2011, Brathwaite was an instant success with the Barbados side. His 7/90 against Trinidad & Tobago saw him become a fan favorite as well. His performances ironically came when the civil war within the West Indies had taken a turn for the worse as they Windies stormed off the tour of India. Without many options, the selectors turned to Carlos Brathwaite to fill in one of the many voids left by the previous regime. Little did they know they had picked a rough diamond, certainly one who will serve West Indies cricket for the future.

Although Brathwaite is classified as an all-rounder, he comes from the Andre Russell and Heath Streak tradition, a specialist bowler who can bat a bit. His first class stats do very little to illustrate his talent.

• Brathwaite has 1407 runs and 88 wickets in 38 first class matches.
• In 37 domestic matches, he has scored 307 runs with 33 wickets.
• His strike rate in T20s for Barbados reads 137.66 and has an economy rate of 6.98.

Impressive domestic performances in the longer format eventually meant that the selectors couldn’t ignore him forever. He was included in the squad for the Test series against Australia. He also had the unique distinction of becoming one of the few players to make their debut on Boxing Day at the MCG. In a horrific performance by the West Indies, Brathwaite was the stand out performer. He picked a wicket in each inning and made a useful 59 in the first innings.

Now, it seems as though Brathwaite is part of the squad in the shortest format. He has been described by coaches as hard working and hard hitting. His fast bowling prowess makes it easier for him to fit into the squad as the Windies look to add balance to their side. He is also the only fast bowling all-rounder to appear in the squad.

“It feels good to be selected for the IPL… I want to thank Delhi Daredevils for giving me this opportunity and hope to do well for them. But I don’t want to look too far ahead,” said Brathwaite.

“The World Cup is of prime importance now. I have an important role in the team and want to concentrate on that,” said the Barbadian.

A handy pacer and a hard-hitting middle order batsman, Brathwaite may well be the solution to the fast bowling all-rounder the Windies were hoping and praying for. Having been coached by Curtly Ambrose, there will be no qualms regarding his abilities. He will be perhaps the final jigsaw in the puzzle as the West Indies look to preserve their status as the dark horses of the tournament.