West Indies beat Australia by 8 runs at the Gabba. The win had all the signatures of the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2021-22. India were bowled out for 36 runs in Adelaide. Former Australian cricketers wrote India off. The same happened with West Indies. A 10-wicket victory prompted former Australian cricketers to write them off too. But one statement from Rodney Hogg echoed in Windies dressing room: Pathetic and hopeless. Windies captain Kraigg Brathwaite used the very words to inspire the team to draw the AUS vs WI series 1-1.
If there was Rishabh Pant that day two years ago for India, Shamar Joseph was there for West Indies. Two youngsters broke Australians to show, don’t write off opponents too early. Be humble.
I must say we had two words that inspired us in this Test match, Mr. Rodney Hogg said that we were ‘pathetic and hopeless’. That was our inspiration. We wanted to show the world we’re not pathetic. And I must ask him, are these muscles big enough for him,” Kraigg Brathwaite said at the post-match presentation.
Like how Ajikya Rahane inspired a team that had their heads down, West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite did that too. A young pacer Shamar Joseph with an injured toe bagged seven wickets to script Australia’s downfall at the very ground where Rishabh Pant powered a severely-depleted India to win. “Pathetic and hopeless” West Indies could not win over Steve Smith but the rest of the Aussie batters fell like ten pins in the AUS vs WI 2nd Test.
“We won a Test match in Australia. It does a lot for West Indies cricket. It means a lot. It’s been a number of years since we’ve won a Test match here. But my message to the group is that this is the beginning. It’s amazing we enjoy this, but this has to continue. I’m extremely proud,” Kraigg Brathwaite added.
