After another fine IPL campaign, captain fantastic Dwayne Bravo has now set his sights firmly on glory with the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel in the 2015 Hero Caribbean Premier League.
The Red Steel have lost twice in the eliminators in the CPL and are desperate to go one better this time around. They have an experienced squad to call on, with Sout Africa legend Jacques Kallis, Pakistan star Kamral Akmal and West Indies spinner Samuel Badree in their ranks.
"It's a dream come true to play with a role model of mine like Jacques Kallis" - Dwayne Bravo
We caught up with Bravo to talk all things Trinidad and Tobago, as well as his plans to release a track with Andre Russell...
Q We spoke to your coach Simon Helmot last week and he described you as the spiritual leader of the franchise. Can you put into context how it feels to be the captain of the Red Steel again this year?
A It’s a joy for me. It’s not quite being the captain for the country but at the same time it’s the team based in my native island and I look forward to leading a bunch of talented young guys, with some experience as well. I love Trinidad and Tobago. For me to be captain in a tournament which is so big - the CPL is the biggest party in sport - to host some of the biggest players in the world under my guidance, my leadership, with the help and assistance of all the other players in the team, it’s a great experience for me and it’s also for me to try and make sure the environment is as comfortable as possible so players can perform to the best of their abilities.
Q How much are you looking forward to playing with Jacques Kallis this year and what is he going to bring to the Red Steel?
A I’m definitely looking forward to playing with him because firstly we all know how good a player he is and for me it’s a dream come true to play with a role model of mine growing up. I’ve always wanted to emulate him and to have him in the same team as me and to represent the same franchise, it’s going to be a boost for us. We definitely wanted him in the draft, so when Simon and myself planned out the players that we wanted for this season we were happy to put him down.
A I’m definitely looking forward to playing with him because firstly we all know how good a player he is and for me it’s a dream come true to play with a role model of mine growing up. I’ve always wanted to emulate him and to have him in the same team as me and to represent the same franchise, it’s going to be a boost for us. We definitely wanted him in the draft, so when Simon and myself planned out the players that we wanted for this season we were happy to put him down.
Q Jacques is only one of the 15 players in the team, who else should we look out for to make an impact?
A I think Kevon Cooper. In the CPL he’s been very good, especially with the ball. Johan Botha, I look forward to playing with him as well, as he’s an experienced player and he’s played a lot of international cricket. Kamran Akmal also, Pakistan wicketkeeper and batsman, but also Darren Bravo my younger brother, and Samuel Badree as well. The squad is good - we have youth, we have experience, and class as well, so it’s going to be a very exciting tournament once again. But it’s not going to be easy because all the other teams have got good players as well, so let’s see how it goes.
A I think Kevon Cooper. In the CPL he’s been very good, especially with the ball. Johan Botha, I look forward to playing with him as well, as he’s an experienced player and he’s played a lot of international cricket. Kamran Akmal also, Pakistan wicketkeeper and batsman, but also Darren Bravo my younger brother, and Samuel Badree as well. The squad is good - we have youth, we have experience, and class as well, so it’s going to be a very exciting tournament once again. But it’s not going to be easy because all the other teams have got good players as well, so let’s see how it goes.
"To see my brother Darren hit the ball for six to win the game... It was as if we'd won the tournament" - Dwayne Bravo
Q. Finally on the player front, you mentioned your brother who hit that amazing six last year to win that game against Guyana - can you remember the emotions you went through at the end?
A That game was a must win game for us. Denesh Ramdin had batted very well in his innings and Guyana had made 180. When I went in to bat the score was 15 for 3 and the first thing I said to my brother as soon as I walked in was ‘We are going to win this game’. We went on to have a partnership of over 100 and then I got out and then it comes on to the last over, to the last ball, and that in itself was nerve-racking that we might have come this close to not even win the game. Then to see Darren hit the ball for six it was as if we had won the entire tournament.
A That game was a must win game for us. Denesh Ramdin had batted very well in his innings and Guyana had made 180. When I went in to bat the score was 15 for 3 and the first thing I said to my brother as soon as I walked in was ‘We are going to win this game’. We went on to have a partnership of over 100 and then I got out and then it comes on to the last over, to the last ball, and that in itself was nerve-racking that we might have come this close to not even win the game. Then to see Darren hit the ball for six it was as if we had won the entire tournament.
Q You got to the play-offs in both tournaments, so what do you need to do to make the final and go on and win it? And with the finals being in Trinidad, is that an extra motivation for you to go on and do well?
A In the first season we started off very slowly but were still able to make it to the semi-finals. But in the second we started off very well and lost our way at the end. So I think this year we need to peak at the right time, try not to peak too early, try not to peak too late, take it one game at a time and when it comes to the crunch time, the team that handles the pressure better can go on to win the game. So for us that is going to be our biggest challenge, to make sure that we peak at the right time.
Q Red Steel open up the tournament against the Zouks, so have you got a message for Darren Sammy?
A In the first season we started off very slowly but were still able to make it to the semi-finals. But in the second we started off very well and lost our way at the end. So I think this year we need to peak at the right time, try not to peak too early, try not to peak too late, take it one game at a time and when it comes to the crunch time, the team that handles the pressure better can go on to win the game. So for us that is going to be our biggest challenge, to make sure that we peak at the right time.
Q Red Steel open up the tournament against the Zouks, so have you got a message for Darren Sammy?
A I’m not planning to do anything to any team. I don’t really want to talk about anything, I just want to wish him and the St Lucia Zouks the best of luck for the tournament. I want my team to win, and may the better team win on the day. We are very good friends, we regularly speak to each other and his team have a couple of new players as well. So I wish good luck to Darren Sammy in the tournament and all the best to all the teams, and hopefully the best team will go on to win the tournament.
"I love my fans very much. I'll try and give them something to be proud of" - Dwayne Bravo
Q You obviously play against a lot of the guys you play with in the West Indies squad. Is there one of your international team-mates that you always like to get out at all?
A There is a special bond between Kieron Pollard and myself so the two of us always have our own competition apart from the team, we have our own individual competition against each other. Pollard and I is the only one that you will actually see get in the banter on the cricket field, but we are best friends so nothing will change that.
Q You are an all-rounder, so can I ask you what feels better - is it knocking a batsman’s middle stump over, or hitting a six?
A I enjoy both of them, that is the glory of being an all-rounder.
Q A lot has been made about your fans in Trinidad, the trini-posse. Do you have a message for them ahead of the tournament?
A I just want to say I look forward to seeing them coming out, and I would like them to support the tournament and not only the team, so they are going to be very important for the tournament. We have some big name players that are going to be part of it this season again. Obviously I love my fans very much, so I’ll try and give them something to be proud of.
Q We hear that you like to sing and rap - there’s a video of you from last year. If you were to win the CPL, would you perform your own song on the pitch at the Queen’s Park Oval?
A Yes I will, as long as I’m allowed to, I will. 100%.
Q If you could, who would you most like to duet with?
A The owner of my team Shah Rukh Khan.
A There is a special bond between Kieron Pollard and myself so the two of us always have our own competition apart from the team, we have our own individual competition against each other. Pollard and I is the only one that you will actually see get in the banter on the cricket field, but we are best friends so nothing will change that.
Q You are an all-rounder, so can I ask you what feels better - is it knocking a batsman’s middle stump over, or hitting a six?
A I enjoy both of them, that is the glory of being an all-rounder.
Q A lot has been made about your fans in Trinidad, the trini-posse. Do you have a message for them ahead of the tournament?
A I just want to say I look forward to seeing them coming out, and I would like them to support the tournament and not only the team, so they are going to be very important for the tournament. We have some big name players that are going to be part of it this season again. Obviously I love my fans very much, so I’ll try and give them something to be proud of.
Q We hear that you like to sing and rap - there’s a video of you from last year. If you were to win the CPL, would you perform your own song on the pitch at the Queen’s Park Oval?
A Yes I will, as long as I’m allowed to, I will. 100%.
Q If you could, who would you most like to duet with?
A The owner of my team Shah Rukh Khan.
Q And what about Andre Russell, we’ve heard quite a lot about him recording his own track?
A Yeah, Andre and I are going to be doing something very soon. During the CPL, when I go to Jamaica we have something planned.
A Yeah, Andre and I are going to be doing something very soon. During the CPL, when I go to Jamaica we have something planned.
Q. You spoke to Chris Gayle last week and he said his ideal dinner guests were Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, and Beyoncé, and we were wondering who yours would be, and why?
A J.Lo. Jennifer Lopez, she is my all-time favourite.
A J.Lo. Jennifer Lopez, she is my all-time favourite.
