- July 3, 2025
When we talk about milestones in contemporary cricket, few are as legendary as 100. Not just in terms of 100s with the bat, but playing 100 Test matches. With the game heavily tilted towards fast-paced formats and flamboyant fames, Kraigg Brathwaite quietly attained his 100th Test match under heart and determination, and the old-fashioned way. A man who has never played a professional T20, his allegiance to the long format stands out.
A Quiet Warrior in a Loud World
Kraigg Brathwaite is a rare breed in today’s cricketing landscape—an old soul thriving in a fast-forward era. While others prefer contracts with franchises and entertainment flicks, Kraigg has built his legacy in whites, almost in ignorance. His story isn’t one of talent idiosyncrasy, but determination. Having scored his maiden test 100 in 2014 against New Zealand, Brathwaite has taken up the mantle of hope for West Indies batting,
It is astonishing how he can concentrate for such a long time. In the grand theatre of Test cricket, he played the longest soliloquy ever by a West Indian. He is the monk of patience to a generation of swipes and sixes. Brathwaite even admitted once that he didn’t believe he was good enough to score a hundred for West Indies. The honesty and naked humility, along with the belief he has in himself, make the milestone of 100 Tests frankly quite special.
The Highs, the Lows, and the Long Game
Brathwaite’s Test career has not always been a consistent success. Like many great red-ball careers, it has been streaky; he had two golden years—2014 (when he averaged 77) and 2022 (when he was named ICC Test Team of the Year). The runs have dried up, and questions asking about his form have not been particularly kind; while in 2023, here he is, still at the top of the order, still believing.
Some instances in Brathwaite’s career are like cricket postcards that will never fade away, including his Headingley performances in 2017 after a duck, and his Perth century against the world No. 1 team, Australia, in 2022. These innings weren’t just about the runs scored; they were about mental stamina – if he could survive two sessions, he had already conquered half the battle. That calm, unflappable mentality is what makes him an anomaly in an age of nearly obsolete Test openers.
No T20, No Problem: The Brathwaite Blueprint
Not having played even one professional T20 match today sounds unbelievable. However, Brathwaite has never tried to fit into a box that wasn’t meant for him. He has been a one-format specialist in a multi-format world. It was either an intentional decision or a circumstantial decision, but Brathwaite has been able to perfect one craft by sticking to a one-format plan.
Even his advice to young cricketers is revealing. It’s not about stylish footwork or stylish shots; it’s about discipline, process, and having faith in your process even when it fails. Brathwaite’s career is a masterclass in perseverance, and not just physically, but mentally. As Test cricket fights for significance within a format-fatigued world, players such as Brathwaite are probably its best argument for continuing.
Kraigg Brathwaite hitting the milestone of 100 Tests is not just an individual achievement for him but also a subtle revolt against the short attention span of modern cricket. He cooly strives to be the most untrendy cricketer around, never likely to top the Twitter trending list for a release over midwicket or a little shimmy six, but for anyone who has engaged with Test cricket, his name will always ring with the utmost respect. His narrative is not glamorous, but it has to be.
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