Bravo brothers set to create history
June 21, 2009

History could be in the making again when for the first time in almost 70 years, two brothers from T&T will represent the West Indies team in an international match together.

The feat could be achieved on Friday when the left-handed Darren Bravo joins his elder brother Dwayne in the regionaal team for the first One Day International against India at Sabina Park in Jamaica.

The last brothers from T&T to represent the West Indies were the late Victor and Jeffrey Stollmeyer. They played together for the Windies in 1939 against England in a drawn Third Test match at Kennington Oval in London.

Jeffrey opened the batting and scored 59, while Victor batted at four and made 96. Bravo (Darren) earned his selection after a good season with the bat for T&T in the Regional Competitions.

The Brian Lara look-alike tallied 605 runs from nine matches in the regional four-day competition earlier this season.

He scored two centuries in the tournament; 105 against the Windward Islands at Guaracara Park in Pointe-a-Pierre and 111 against Barbados at the same venue.

The 20-year-old Santa Cruz resident made his First-Class debut for T&T in 2007 against the Leeward Islands at the National Cricket Centre at Balmain in Couva.

Since his debut, Bravo has appeared in 15 First-Class matches and has tallied 701 runs with a personal best of 111 in 2009 against Barbados at Pointe-a-Pierre.

He was also a part of the West Indies Under-19 team that played in the 2008 World Cup. When contacted yesterday, Bravo told the Guardian that he is elated at his call-up.

“Obviously, it is a great feeling as I always wanted to represent the West Indies team. It is even a greater feeling playing alongside my brother (Dwayne) for the regional team. I know it is a bit difficult to break into the final 11, but I intend to seize the opportunity with my both hands and do exactly what I was doing all season with the bat,” said an elated Bravo.

Former T&T and West Indies opening batsman Bryan Davis, who was the head coach of the Queen’s Park Cricket School when Bravo joined at the tender age of eight, said that the youngster has the potential to play at the highest level.

“I am glad for Darren, I believe he has the potential to do very well at the highest level. He has been in some good form this year and I hope he can transfer that if he is selected on the final 11,” Davis said.

Another youngster who is oozing with confidence is the 19-year-old T&T opening batsman Adrian Barath.

The right-handed FC Clarke Road United and Presentation College, Chaguanas player has earned a call-up on the West Indies ‘A’ team for their match against Bangladesh next Tuesday in Barbados.

This is Barath’s second match for the West Indies ‘A’ team in 2009, having played against England at Warner Park in St Kitts, where he scored 132.

The pint-sized Barath scored 846 runs in this year’s regional four-day competition including two centuries 192 against the Leeward Isllands at the UWI grounds in St Augustine and 113 against the same opponents in Anguilla.

Barath has appeared in 21 First-Class match and has scored 1605 runs with five centuries and seven half-centuries.

The holder of six O’Level subjects, Barath believes his time is close in representing the West Indies senior team.

“I think this is a great opportunity for me to play against Bangladesh, knowing this is a Test playing nation. It is also important for me to go out there and give 100 per-cent and also to show what I am made of. I want to do well because I believe that being consistent will enhance my chances of representing the West Indies senior team in the not too distant future,” Barath said.

Bravo will leave tomorrow for Kingston, while Barath will depart later this week for Bridgetown.