On November 4 during this year’s T20 Cricket World Cup, West Indies cricket all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, announced his retirement from international cricket. This was his second retirement and it came as his team, the defending champions, crashed out of the tournament.
At the virtual post-match press conference after the loss to Sri Lanka, I asked Dwayne about what he would want to say to Charles Gullen. In my first interview with Dwayne back in 2004 before he got selected for the West Indies, he had told me that Gullen had spotted him at 8 years old, and arranged for him to join Queen’s Park Cricket Club in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. Last week, after Dwayne answered my question, I thanked him for the memories.
There are many, but the memory which stands out in my mind was a One Day International match against India at Sabina Park, in May 2006. Although I had a steady job by then, having had a mini-retirement from 2003 to 2005, I got 3 months off and trips were usually planned around the cricket schedule. So I was at that match in Jamaica.
West Indies batted first and made 198/9. In reply, India was batting well enough, so in my mind, they would cruise to victory. I decided to leave the match early. Perhaps it was after about 6 wickets had gone and I felt they were close to achieving the score.
I remember this clearly. I was heading to the plazas on Constant Spring Road, via Waterloo Road while listening to radio commentary. Wickets kept falling and something said “turn around and go back to Sabina Park.” I obeyed. At that post-match press conference, I confessed to Captain Lara that I had left. Click on this article to read what he said to me.
Watch this video to see the last three wickets fall. It was Dwayne’s only wicket, but it was the one which won the game, (and to hear Tony Cozier say “it’s all over….West Indies has won. Dwayne Bravo is the hero.”….priceless!).
Here is an excerpt from my article.
The decision to use Dwayne Bravo to bowl the last over when India required 11 runs for victory was also part of the ongoing plan to ensure that every player can contribute when required. “I had an option today with Fidel Edwards or Bravo but the fact that Bravo did a very good job on Thursday was the telling effect. He’s an amazing player to have in your team,” the West Indian captain said referring to the disappointment of not scoring any runs, but yet still coming back to do the job with the ball.
If I ever get to interview Dwayne Bravo again, I would want to ask him what Brian Lara said to him after Yuvraj had scored the boundary, leaving India needing just 2 runs from 3 balls.
Click here for the scorecard.
I have had the pleasure of interviewing Dwayne a few times, and he was always willing to take the time to answer my many questions. He will continue to play on the T20 cricket circuit, so you will have a chance to see more of his slower balls and his athleticism and generally chirpiness on the field.
Thank you for the memories Dwayne Bravo!