Dwayne Bravo became the first bowler to take 500 wickets in T20 cricket

Dwayne Bravo Photos

Dwayne Bravo on Wednesday became the first bowler to take 500 T20 wickets. The West Indies all-rounder achieved the feat during ongoing Caribbean Premier League encounter between Trinbago Knight Riders and St Lucia Zouks. Bravo who was one short of the landmark while heading into match dismissed Zouks’s Rakheem Cornwall for his prized 500th scalp.

Dwayne John Bravo born on 07 October 1983 is from Trinidad. He started playing from age of 8 and made his first-class debut against Barbados in 2002. With impressive domestic & A team performances he was selected to play home ODI series in 2003-04. In a way tour against the same opposition in 2004 he made his test debut test at Lords scoring 44 and 10 in two innings and also took 2 wickets. He took 8/37 at old Trafford and which remains his best test figures to date. His test career ended in 2010 and ODI career in 2014 but he remained a vital member of T20 side after making a debut in February 2006.

He started playing T20 all over the world and till now has played for 20 teams. He is known for his aggressive batting in the middle or lower-middle order and for his bowling. He is being used at death as he is very clever with his variations of length and can bowl good slow or fast Yorkers. His bowling run rate is on the higher side as he bowls at death and in a T20 game batsman usually go hell for leather and its the bowler who is at receiving end 9 out of 10 times. He is 36 years old and has played 459 t20 matches. So considering the longevity in the format and also the format is tough for bowlers, so to play this number of games and to take 500 wickets is a gigantic achievement. He is the third player to score 1000 runs and take 50 wickets in all three formats.

Dwayne Bravo

Bravo also holds the record for record 9th wicket partnership of 65 runs with Jerome Taylor in T20Is. He is an athletic fielder as well and can change the game with a moment of brilliance in the field. In one of IPL matches against Royal challengers Bengaluru, Virat Kohli hit a straight drive, Bravo pounced on the ball and in one action threw down the stumps with an accurate throw to catch Kohli short of his crease. His accuracy in bowling slower ball is known to everyone.

In an ODI against India, with Yuvraj at crease and India required 2 runs off three balls. Yuvraj had hit two boundaries of previous two balls and Bravo was under tremendous pressure. Gayle suggested him to bowl a slower ball and Bravo delivered the most effective slow ball Yorker that totally bamboozled Yuvraj and he was early in his flick shot and heard the timber. In another instance, at an IPL match, Rashid had hit him for a six and a four to bring the equation to 4 of 1 ball. Bravo had saved his best for the last ball and bowled a perfectly executed yorker that Rashid could only hit to long-on.

He has gone for runs at per over rate of 9,10,11 sometimes 12 as well but the fact that he bowls two sometimes three in slog overs so he is bound to go runs but more often than not he delivers with the ball as the 500 wicket count will justify. He is also a good singer and dancer as his post-wicket-taking celebrations are something to watch out. He still looks fit and has good two maybe three seasons in him.

One line of his song which defines him

“Everybody now says Bravo a Champion, Champion”