Kraigg Brathwaite

Kraigg Brathwaite became a mainstay in West Indies' Test batting order in an era where consistent success was hard to find. He was named full-time Test captain in March 2021 and led them on 39 occasions before standing down in early 2024, putting him joint-fourth, alongside Garry Sobers, for most matches in charge for West Indies.

It is not unfair to say that Brathwaite is a player from another era. As of June 2025, he had never played a professional game of T20 cricket. But, at his best, he has been a stubborn and resilient opening batter able to soak up a huge amount of time and deliveries. Five times he has faced more than 400 balls in a Test, topping out with 673 deliveries against England in 2022 - the most for a West Indies batter.

Brathwaite made his first-class debut aged just 16 in 2009 and impressed, scoring 73 while opening the batting for Barbados. He was called up for the West Indies squad for the Test series against Bangladesh later that same year when senior players had gone on strike, and was subsequently awarded a contract by the WICB (now CWI), but had to wait until 2011 for his debut against Pakistan.

His maiden Test century came in 2014 against New Zealand and a couple of months later he hit 212 (off 447 balls) against Bangladesh, which remains his career-best. That year would remain, by average, his best in Test cricket as he scored at 77.88. In 2016, an unbeaten 142 when he carried his bat against Pakistan in Sharjah helped set up victory. He was unbeaten in the second innings, too, facing 427 balls in the match.

One of his crowning moments came in 2017, against England at Headingley, when he made 134 and 95 in a victory secured with a significant run chase. Facing England again in 2022, he produced another display of his immense powers of concentration with 160 off 489 balls (in 710 minutes) in Barbados. He was named in that year's ICC Test team of the year.

Towards the latter stages of his captaincy, he was in charge for the famous overseas wins at the Gabba (2024) and Multan (2025), the latter becoming his final game in the role.
ESPNcricinfo staff