With bated breath

The immense talent was there for all the Caribbean to see.
But so were Kraigg’s Brathwaite’s weaknesses.
The Barbadian’s long awaited batting debut on the senior West Indies team came just before 1 p.m. yesterday, and across Barbados, in rum-shops, at pudding and souse bars and even in offices, time stood still as the 18-year-old opened his Test career against Pakistan at Warner Park in St Kitts.
The first good sign was an expansive square drive all along the ground through gully for his first boundary. The second was a picturesque straight drive down the ground, and off the back-foot. In the stands, Brathwaite’s dad Arleigh raised his hands in approval, as Kraigg reached 15 without bother.
But then young Brathwaite got his first lesson in Tests. The day is long, and some balls are better left alone.
Brathwaite was caught fighting for room off a delivery outside offstump from Wahab Riaz, and edged it to second slip to be gobbled up by Taufeeq Umar.
It was his first and last mistake of his first Test innings, which ended on 15.
West Indian fans expect there will be many more positives, than negatives in the future.
In this Associated Press picture, Brathwaite taking off for a run off Pakistan’s bowler Wahab Riaz on the second day of the second Test match in Basseterre, St Kitts, yesterday. (BA)