Carlos Brathwaite likely to debut for West Indies on Boxing Day
West Indian fast-bowling all-rounder, Carlos Brathwaite is likely to be included in the playing XI ahead of the second Test against Australia, in the Frank-Worrell Trophy series, scheduled for December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Brathwaite, who has played 7 ODIs and 2 T20I for West Indies might be included at a replacement for Shanon Gabriel, who injured his ankle during the first Test at Hobart- a game that his side lost by an innings and 212 runs inside three days.
Fast bowler Miguel Cummins was added to the squad following Gabriel’s injury as a replacement.
Jason Holder, the West Indies captain said, “Carlos has been in the squad for a little while now and he's waited for his opportunity, so he's probably pretty much front-line to go in ahead of Miguel.”
"We've got to look at everything - obviously, Carlos is an allrounder and Miguel is just an out-and-out fast bowler," Holder said. "But we'll see how the conditions look tomorrow."
Legspinner Devendra Bishoo is also likely to be recalled as the selectors wait till Saturday morning to assess the pitch and then finalize their playing eleven.
Their off-field turbulence kept aside, the visitors have been suffering a series of humiliations on the cricketing front as well. Before their thrashing at the hands of the Aussies in the first Test, Wes Indies lost their practice match against a side with no first-class experience.
Prior to this, they were whitewashed by Sri Lanka 2-0 when they toured the island nation in October. The team as also been marred with the absence of some of its marquee players who have been playing in the domestic T20 leagues all across the globe.
Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy and Dwayne Bravo (both retired from Tests) are playing in the KFC Big Bash League, Australia’s domestic T20 tournament, while their team struggles with form and attitude issues.
Holder’s side has absorbed a barrage of taunts since their defeat in Hobart, but the captain is optimistic before the game. "I think we're just one good performance from turning things around," he said.
"That's the way we have to look at it. We can't be negative all the time, we just have to find ways to pick ourselves up. We're just one good day from a turnaround and that's the way I'm taking it going forward.”
"We have to make runs, we have to take wickets and when chances come our way in the field we've got to take them - that's as simple as it is."
It might sound simple when Holder says it, but to make this boxing day the day that brings a turnaround for the West Indies, they would really need to play out of their skins against a fired up Australian side.