Brathwaite identifies patience as key to succeed against India

Underlining the importance of playing spin better, West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite has insisted that patience will be a key factor to succeed in the forthcoming four-match Test series against India.

"The pitches are slow here and the Indians will attack with spin, unlike Australia who went with pace. So it's about being patient for us," Brathwaite was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

The 27-year-old, who made his Test debut against Australia in Melbourne last December, admitted that playing against spin had been their weakest link over the last few years but asserted that special emphasis was laid on rectifying their inadequacies in that regard.

"Spin has plotted our downfall over the last two years, but I think we've gotten better," Brathwaite said. "The coach has done a good job by getting a few batters in even during the off season, and the focus has been on playing spin better. It's a matter of us having a few options to each delivery, being patient and playing the waiting game."

While acknowledging the Indian batting as one of the strongest and formidable in the world, Brathwaite has, however, warned that the hosts have made separate plans for each Indian batsman.

"Unfortunately or fortunately, conditions here aren't too different from India now, but we have our plans for each batsman. It's about executing the plans and keeping at it even if things don't go our way," added Brathwaite, who will be part of an inexperienced pace attack alongside Jason Holder, Shannon Gabriel and uncapped Miguel Cummins.

The first of the four-match Test series will start in Antigua from July 21.