Fidel Has A Point To Prove – Bravo

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom – West Indies all rounder Dwayne Bravo spoke with the media after the practice session at Old Trafford on Tuesday afternoon. Following are excerpts from his responses to various issues raised by journalists.

On the mood in the camp:
After the second Test most of us were a bit down and disappointed with the result but we got the opportunity to play a warm up game against the MCC team and those who followed the game know that we had a very good run. We had guys getting among the runs and bowlers getting among the wickets and that did good for our confidence coming into the third Test. It's a must win situation, we want to even the series and have a chance to win it.

On whether the batsmen need to curb their aggression:
We know as West Indian players our natural style is aggression but what we need to do as batters is be more selective in our shot making and try and be as patient as possible. We know it is going to be difficult in conditions where the ball is swinging a lot. Trying to drive the swinging ball is something we have to work on.

On whether the sunnier conditions at Manchester would help team morale:
The conditions were very difficult up at Headingley, we never played in conditions like those before and that was one of our downfalls. However we knew it was going to be cold before coming to England and we are not trying to make excuses but it is difficult to play under those conditions. We have to try and cope with it and learn from it. The conditions here in Manchester will suit us. In the first Test at Lord's the ball didn't do as much as it did in Headingley. If you watched the two games you could actually see the big difference and we are looking forward to Old Trafford, the weather is looking fine, the pitch looks a hard deck and that's our kind of cricket – where the ball is coming on to the bat and good bounce for our fast bowlers and no much sideways movements.

On whether more warm up games would have made a positive difference at the start of the tour:
It could have been useful to us to get used to the conditions and the weather but we don't need to make any excuses in terms of the way we lost the second Test. We batted poorly and that is the reason why we lost with so many runs behind and an innings as well. We had the warm up game to play and the batters got runs and we are really looking forward to this Test match now. It's going to be very good to know that we can bounce back from such a defeat and give a very good showing here come Thursday.

On whether players such as himself have to learn more quickly in the absence of Brian Lara:
I am a young guy as well. I am still in a learning process and I try my best to learn as much as possible. I learn a lot from the England team where batting and bowling is concerned. When I am in the field I try to pick up as much as possible and try to put it into my game. I try to share the little experience that I have by passing it on to other players in the team. I pick out something from every batter that comes to the crease whether it's Alaister Cook, Ian Bell or Kevin Pietersen, no matter who it is. I try to pick out something from their game to put into my game to try and improve. That is something that I was doing since Brian was playing, I learnt a lot from him and now Brian is not here anymore and I have to try and move ahead and find somewhere to get my knowledge from.

On whether Fidel Edwards might be brought into the final XI:
Fidel has been bowling very quickly. He had a very good run in Durham where the deck was very flat. It is nice to see that he got the ball to carry through to the keeper throughout the entire game. Jerome Taylor also looked very impressive and so was Daren Powell. There is stiff competition where the team selection is concerned. If Fidel gets an opportunity to play his first Test on tour I think it would be very interesting. He wants to get back his spot on the team and he has a point to prove.