“This is for DJ Bravo”
“I’m just happy to be part of this game tonight and that’s the reason why so much emotion was kind of behind that celebration,” Russell said after Trinbago Knight Riders beat Amazon Warriors by five wickets. “He [Bravo] deserves a win tonight. You have helped me a lot with my cricket – how to outthink the batter and then to be a smarter bowler. You’re not going to get it right all the time but once you have the right mindset to get the execution, I think you’re on the right way.
“We’re going to miss him but I hope he is still going to be around for the rest of the tournament. But he’s definitely one we all listen to and we all look up to and you know he might shed a bit of tears tonight inside the changing room, but I appreciate him.”
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Russell, who has played 130 matches alongside Bravo, including 74 for West Indies, spoke glowing of the impact Bravo has had on his own career.
“I think me being who I am today, Bravo has a lot to do with it,” Russell said. “I used to wicketkeep, then I started bowling and batting at No.10, No.11 and 9. Watching him play in Test cricket for West Indies – bowling good pace, fielding and diving and all those things and then when he comes to bat, he gets the job done.”
The rest of the TKR players and support staff also seemed to suggest this might have been Bravo’s final CPL match as they honoured him by wearing his No. 47 shirt and giving him a guard of honour before he stepped onto the field.
Bravo bowled Keemo Paul for 3 and snagged a sharp catch at slip to dismiss Tim Robinson for 34. Then, during the innings break, he was driven around the Queen’s Park Oval on a cart as he signed balls and sent them into the crowd.
“So these are the people who he would’ve put and trusted in supporting roles for him and bringing excellent cricketers of generations – Jacques Kallis, Brendon McCullum and Johan Bothas of the world – and our own icons in Darren Bravos and Denesh Ramdins and understanding what’s needed to build a cricket team. I think he has done a fantastic job and there’s no better place to finish his cricketing career in the Caribbean than TKR, a team he has built.”
Russell is back with a bang
“It feels good to be back in the middle,” Russell said. “I’ve been struggling with an ankle injury over the past couple of weeks and you know these guys [support staff] have been doing some amazing job, getting me back on the park. I was going to say ‘thanks to me’ because with the dedication and hard work to make sure that I do whatever the physio wants me to do: wake up early morning, head to the gym, in the pool, and do whatever. So, when you work hard you get good results and I’m happy.”
Deivarayan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
Source: ESPN Crickinfo