'New Big Dog' is ready to bark and bite | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

'New Big Dog' is ready to bark and bite

None | ByPress Trust of India
Oct 09, 2006 02:22 PM IST

Bravo has Lara as his role model, and even calls himself the 'New Big Dog', derived from the legend's nickname.

Dwayne Bravo believes he can be the next great all-rounder after Sir Gary Sobers to have come from the West Indies.

HT Image
HT Image

Bravo, whose all-round abilities will be crucial for Windies' defense in the Champions Trophy starting this weekend, said he was aware the team has missed an all-rounder for long and he was keen to fill that void.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"There is a big void there. Those are big shoes to fill in as top all-rounder," Bravo said.

"I think Sobers is the best all-rounder this game has seen and I have a long way to go. But I am only 22, so I can try and improve my game."

Bravo made an impact on the Indian minds when he cleaned up Yuvraj Singh with a slower ball to give his team a one-run victory in the second ODI in the Caribbean early in 2006.

Bravo said the slower one he had mastered over the years was his "lethal weapon" and intends to use it to deadly effect in the Champions Trophy.

"I developed it after watching international cricket on television," he said.

"Courtney Walsh had a good slower one, Waqar Younis, Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis too. But what I bowl is my own variety.

"I started by bowling it from a short run-up and then from a long run-up," Bravo said.

"Mostly bowlers use in the death to slow up the scoring but I bowl it in the middle overs as well to keep the batsman thinking by varying the pace."

Bravo has skipper Brian Lara as his role model, and even calls himself the 'New Big Dog', derived from the batting legend's nickname 'Big Dog' in his home town Trinidad.

Lara in turn has heaped praise on the youngster, mentioning him as a future great, and the fact that both hail from the same island has made critics talk about the two in the same breath.

Bravo, however, said there was no comparison between the two.

"Lara is 37 and I am 22. There is a big gap in terms of experience and achievement. And he is a batsman, I am an all-rounder.

"It is not Lara but other players also think highly of me. But then it is not just about me but other young players as well," he said.

"Dwayne Smith is equally a good all-rounder and there are four or five players who are really good."  

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On