A STRING of defeats isn’t enough to fluster West Indies’ most confident player on and off the field.In search of a formula to end a sequence of three successive losses against South Africa, West Indies go into the second Digicel One-Day International (ODI) today with Dwayne Bravo optimistic that a win “is just around the corner”.In the aftermath of strong public condemnation after two back-to-back losses in the Twenty20 format and another in the first ODIat the Vivian Richards Stadium, the Caribbean side has started to lose support from many, a reality that is not lost on the vice-captain who speaks with a sense of sincerity in his aim to help turn things around.“We are going through a bit of a rough period. We know a lot of fans are getting impatient. “We as players are feeling the pressure but the most we can do is continue to try and search for that one win,” Bravo said.“Once we get that victory, it is going to make a big difference for us. It is going to help our confidence as players and as a team.“We understand we are representing the entire Caribbean. We want to do well. Things are not going our way. “We are going to continue to work hard and one day the hard work will pay off.”For some observers, the evidence of the first three matches showed none of the hard work Bravo was talking about.The West Indies lost the two Twenty20 Internationals when chasing targets of 137and 121, albeit on pitches that were not the best for batting.When the surface improved for the first ODI, South Africa marched to 280 for seven from 48 overs with Hashim Amla and A.B. de Villiers cracking centuries. When West Indies responded, no batsman reached 50 and the hosts could only manage 215 in 44.1 overs.“We’ve been playing inconsistent cricket. This is a major concern for us (but) as a team, we are addressing it. We are still struggling to find a solution,” Bravo said.“All the guys are putting in an effort in the nets and in preparation. We are planning. We are giving it our best shot. The result doesn’t reflect how we will like it to be, but I think a win is right around the corner.“The guys are starting to hit the ball well and our bowling unit has been bowling well throughout.”There are times when the public won’t mind if you are losing, but it is the manner of defeat that upsets a lot of people.The three matches here have been a case in point – the first two because of chasing relatively modest totals and the other because of what appeared to be an approach more suited to the Twenty20 format when they went after the target in the ODI.It was the third match in which West Indies chose to field first despite the results of the first two.“We took the conditions into consideration. When we came here, it wasn’t quite sure if we were going to start on time. It was overcast. If it is overcast, you expect the ball to doa bit more,” Bravo said.“It was a new pitch. There was supposed to be a bit of moisture there. Winning the toss and putting the opposition in to bat was something natural, but in the end, the pitch flattened out pretty well. You haveto give creditto the way Amla and A.B. (de Villiers) batted.”It was also a third successive match that Bravo was given the responsibility of batting at No. 3, a role he relishes.It came after he delivered ten overs in the field in which he was West Indies’ best bowler on the day with three wickets, but he seemed in too much of a hurry and chopped a ball into his stumps after scoring 15 from ten balls.“I like the opportunity to bat at No. 3. After bowling first, my legs will be a bit tired, but I relish the opportunity. It is something I grabbed with both hands. I will never say no to batting up the order,” Bravo said.“The workload is a lot, but I am happy and will continue to strive and work hard. I am happy with whatever position I am batting.”
