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West Indies captain's savage response to Aussie cricket great after 'pathetic' swipe

Kraigg Brathwaite says the criticism from ex-Australian quick Rodney Hogg was used as motivation for the West Indies side.

Rodney Hogg and West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite.
Kraigg Brathwaite (right) says the criticism from ex-Australian quick Rodney Hogg (left) was used as motivation for the West Indies side to shock Australia in the second Test. Image: Getty

West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite has revealed the motivation for the Test side's shock win over Australia came from one of Australia's cricketing greats. The tourists clinched their first Test win in Australia since 1997 on Sunday, resulting in jubilant scenes among West Indies players and staff as they secured a thrilling eight-run victory.

The West Indies' triumph in the second Test at the Gabba came after ex-Australian fast bowler Rodney Hogg slammed the side following Australia’s 10-wicket win in the first Test, labelling them as "weak" and "hopeless". "Let’s not beat around the bush - They (the West Indies) were hopeless (in Adelaide)," Hogg told Channel 10 last week.

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"We should have two divisions now. We can’t have these weak sides coming out here. Mitchell Starc with a brand new pink ball, he’s going to run straight through them (at the Gabba). So I wouldn’t think the game would go any further than three days. They’re pathetic.

"I look back at the West Indies of old and we’re down stretching on the ground and they’re running past in Speedos and I'm going ‘gee look at their muscles’. These days the West Indies, they’d be running past in overcoats."

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 28: Shamar Joseph of the West Indies celebrates victory after taking the wicket of Josh Hazlewood of Australia during day four of the Second Test match in the series between Australia and West Indies at The Gabba on January 28, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Shamar Joseph took seven wickets in the second innings to lead the Windies to victory as the Australian batting order collapsed. Image: Getty

Hogg's criticism stuck with them, with Braithwaite telling Fox Cricket's Isa Guha post-match that his words spurred the side on before cheekily asking the Aussie great if his muscles were 'big enough'. "I must say we had two words that inspired us in this test match. Mr Rodney Hogg said we were ‘pathetic’ and ‘hopeless’, so that source was our inspiration," Braithwaite said.

"We wanted to show the world we’re not pathetic. And I must ask him - are these muscles big enough for him?"

In the press conference after the win that drew the series at 1-1, the West Indies captain spoke further on the team's hurt from Hogg's comments. "He expressed himself about how he felt about us as a group and we wanted to let him know that we heard him. We planned well as a group, but we saw his words and that was extra motivation for us as well," he said.

"Test match cricket is never easy (or) winning Test matches. When you have a guy disrespecting West Indies, and us players that are playing, it is hurtful."

Pat Cummins says Australia's batsmen will be disappointed

Pat Cummins believes some of Australia's batsmen will regret how they performed in their defeat to the West Indies. Shamar Joseph took seven wickets in the second innings to lead the Windies to victory as the Australian batting order collapsed.

From 2-113, Australia lost 8-94, with Cameron Green (42), Travis Head (0), Mitch Marsh (10), Alex Carey (2), Mitchell Starc (21) and Cummins (2) all dismissed in an incredible 10-over spell in the first session on Sunday. Head's dismissal gave him a king pair (two golden ducks in one match) and made it four dismissals in his last four balls faced in Tests at the Gabba.

"You've got to find a way to get yourself into your innings and I'm sure a couple of batters will look at a couple of ways they were dismissed," Cummins said afterwards. "They outplayed us, they played brilliantly.

"There was a lot of the talk coming in about their debutants ... but they've created a couple of new superstars we didn't know about. As a cricket fan, a Test match cricket fan, there's a part of me that was happy to watch."

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