Kraigg Brathwaite: Gloucestershire sign West Indies Test captain for County Championship

Kraigg Brathwaite has a batting average of 38.17 in first-class cricket

Gloucestershire have signed West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite for the first half of the 2021 County Championship season.

Brathwaite, 28, has been leading West Indies in their current series against Sri Lanka, which ends on 2 April.

But, given the Covid-19 restrictions, he is more likely to make his debut in the second round of fixtures.

"I have always enjoyed county cricket and cherished the times I've been able to play in England," said Brathwaite.

"I'm excited to come to Bristol and do my best for the team, the club and of course the Gloucestershire supporters."

Brathwaite is no stranger to the county game having previously had spells at Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Glamorgan from 2017-2019.

He made his Test debut as an 18-year-old in 2011 and has averaged 32.24 over 67 matches, with a top score of 212 against Bangladesh in 2014.

"To be able to bring somebody in who has played the number of Tests Kraigg has, and now as captain, is going to be a massive boost for the guys in the dressing room," said Gloucestershire head coach Ian Harvey.

"He will obviously add quality to the team now but also moving forward as a group, his presence here will be extremely beneficial for us.

"Kraigg has been on our radar for some time now. The way he goes about playing the game really impresses a lot of people at the club and it's fantastic that we've been able to bring him in for the early part of the County Championship."