Young West Indian makes his mark

After a sensational individual tour of Australia, Dwayne Bravo can go home with his head held high as James Willoughby reports.

The tiny town of Santa Cruz in Trinidad was going bananas a few days ago, as genuine all-rounder Dwayne Bravo backed up Brian Lara’s splendid double century with a superb six-wicket haul in the Third Test against Australia.

After putting his century-making effort in Hobart behind him, Bravo showed his teammates what can be done with consistent line and length, with the enigmatic talent finishing with the fantastic figures of 6-84 from 27 overs.

The highlight of Bravo’s spell was an amazing one handed catch taken by Bravo himself, to send Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne back to the pavilion.

In the two balls prior to the dismissal, Warne was trapped in front and both deliveries received vociferous appeals from the bowler.

After good pressure, Warne came forward to a fullish delivery, and the world’s highest wicket taker came forward and produced a leading edge. Bravo, who was steaming in, took two paces forward before leaping to his left and taking a brilliant one handed catch at full stretch.

The wicket sparked a Football-like celebration, with Bravo wheeling away with the ‘airplane’ move, flanked by sprinting team-mates as they celebrated a rare joyous moment.

Bravo finished with the best figures for a West Indian in Australia since Ian Bishop claimed 6-40 at Perth in season 1992/93.

Bravo’s 6-84 against world champs Australia, and his 6-55 against world No.2 England recently give the impression that Bravo will be a quality bowler for many years to come.

However, it’s not just his bowling doing the talking.

At Hobart, Bravo (113) combined with wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin (71) to produce a sensational 182-run partnership to keep the Aussies at bay, with the pair flaying the Australian bowlers all over the park.

Bravo joined Ramdin at the wicket with the score at 6-140, and the two valiantly fought to keep the series alive. Despite Ramdin departing him, Bravo continued his flamboyant style with the Trinidadian bringing up his century.

It was Bravo's second successive Test century, after making 107 for the Windies in Antigua earlier this year against South Africa. Bravo's innings included 15 fours, and was one of the highlights of the tour.

But, if it wasn’t for Bravo’s hard work he certainly would have not reached the dizzy heights of where he is today.

Bravo feared for his future after being sent home from a regional under-15 tournament for a break of curfew, but he worked hard and gained a place in the West Indies A side, for the tour of England in 2002.

England has been a happy hunting ground for Bravo, where in his first four Tests, the charismatic all-rounder claimed 16 scalps, and was the leading wicket-taker for the tour.

Many stars have made their impact on Australia, and gone out to bigger and better things. Irfan Pathan (India) came to Australia as a back-up left-arm bowler but after injuries quickly made his may on the world champs. The wicket of Steve Waugh in his final test, proved to be a decisive moment in the youngster’s career. Now he opens the bowling for the Indians, and is their strike bowler.

There probably would be no better example than Simon Jones, who after niggling knee and back problems, finally proved his potential with a sensational Ashes campaign. Jones, used raw pace and reverse swing to dramatic effect, and alongside Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen led the Englishmen to a brilliant series win.

Bravo has proved he can match it with the best, and only time will tell how far he can take his potential.

Attention Cricket World: Dwayne Bravo has arrived.

•  Have a view on this story? Send us your feedback!