Kraigg Brathwaite digging out the hand-warmers as West Indian opener prepares for Glamorgan stint

The 26-year old replaces Shaun Marsh, who has returned to Western Australia ahead of the Australian domestic season

Bajan opening batsman Kraigg Brathwaite says that he may have to dig out his hand warmers as he prepares to join Glamorgan for the final three matches of their Specsavers County Championship Division Two campaign.

The 26-year old replaces Shaun Marsh, who has returned to Western Australia ahead of the Australian domestic season. Since making his Test debut aged 19, Brathwiate has scored eight centuries and 17 half-centuries, with his highest score to date, 212, coming against Bangladesh in 2014.

The Welsh side face matches against bottom sides Worcestershire at Blackfinch New Road and Leicestershire at Sophia Gardens, before a potentially crucial match against Durham at Chester-le-Street, as they look to gain promotion to Division One next season.

They sit in fourth place, five points adrift of Northamptonshire who occupy the third and final promotion spot.

Ahead of the visit to Worcester, Brathwaite said: “I’m coming here to open and want to lay the foundations for the team as much as possible and obviously do well. It’d be great if I could get some big runs and put in some big performances that help Glamorgan to go up to the First Division.

“Obviously there’s a huge difference in temperature, for sure. But I guess once you get out there, and get outside into the cold, cold breeze, you’ll get familiar.

“Batting wise, there’s no difference, it’s just that the feeling in your hands tends to be cold. I’ll just get some hand warmers and I’ll be fine!”

Brathwaite, no relation to fellow Barbadian and former schoolmate Carlos, is an alumnus of Combermere School in Barbados, whose past pupils include Sirs Frank Worrell, Clyde Walcott and Wes Hall, along with current Sussex and England cricketers Chris Jordan and Jofra Archer.

He should be no stranger, then, to joining a proud tradition of West Indian cricketers who have worn the daffodil, including Viv Richards, Roy Fredericks, Ezra Moseley and Winston Davis.

“I know that Sir Viv played here, for sure. I came here 10 or 11 years ago with the West Indies A team, but I didn’t play. But I always knew that [Sophia Gardens] is a lovely ground. I’m really looking forward to playing here.

“During the Test series against India, my agent told me he was in contact with Glamorgan, so it wasn’t me per se. But when he came to me about Glamorgan, I was quite excited and he said he was going to try his best to get it through, so I was quite happy.

“A couple of days after that, he told me a deal had been received and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Braithwaite, having met up with his new team-mates in Cardiff for training ahead of the three remaining fixtures, believes Glamorgan are in a strong position, despite two losses and a draw in their most recent Championship matches.

“I think we have a good chance of promotion, but it’s obviously a process,” he said.

“As batsmen and bowlers, you go through your processes from the start of the game to the end. I think we have a very good chance and we’ll do very well if we can stick to the gameplan.

“I’ve met a few of the guys, if not all of them, because they had a practice session and so I had a session with them as well. Matthew Maynard and Mark Wallace are also very important to Glamorgan, as they’re experienced guys. I’m looking forward to the challenge, and to going out there and doing well for Glamorgan.”

Courtesy of the ECB Reporters Network.