The news that Dwayne Bravo has been ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup due to the thoroughly painful-looking knee injury he picked up against South Africa is a dagger in the heart of the West Indies.
The Windies have a number of all-rounders in their side, but only Bravo has the ability to bowl consistently accurately to dry up runs and frustrate batsmen with his nagging line and length, as well as being penetrative with his deceptively quick yorkers and well-practised slower balls.
His ability to score run-a-ball 50s, 60s or 70s in the middle order and give his side some impetus towards the end of an innings is also a precious commodity for the Caribbean outfit. He will never be a regular ton scorer due to his general lack of application and patience (much like most of the West Indies' batting line-up), and his position in the order, but when he comes to the wicket the opposition know he can take the game away from them unless he is dismissed pretty swiftly.
Bravo is a genuine entertainer with bat and ball. That's what I like about him the most, and it is why the West Indies, as well as the tournament as a whole, will feel like its heart has been punctured a little.
I remember watching an ODI match on the television in May 2006 as India toured the Windies. It was played at Sabina Park, Jamaica, and the home side had only managed to muster 198. However, the Indians also struggled, confirming it was not an easy pitch to bat on. Yuvraj Singh was steering India home expertly and, nine down, India needed 10 to win from the last five deliveries. Bravo had been entrusted with the final over, but Yuvraj smeared him for two fours to take the Indians within touching distance of victory.
Then something exraordinary happened. Bravo, then just 22 years of age, had the audacity, the confidence and the downright cheek to bowl an incredibly well-controlled slower-yorker that completely flummoxed Yuvraj and bowled him. Cue wild calypso-crazed scenes as West Indies won by one run.
Bravo had earlier got a duck and had bowled only three overs before he was thrown the ball for the final one of the game, yet he still showed remarkable self-belief and a fearlessness that only top cricketers possess.
As a result of their never-ending immaturity and erratic nature in every discipline of the game, the West Indies would probably have struggled in this World Cup even with Bravo. Now he is injured, their chances of success are considerably slimmer.
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