Ranking the top 10 Test openers in the world currently

#6 Kraigg Brathwaite (West Indies)

Brathwaite is an old-fashioned Test opener

Certainly one of the more old-fashioned openers on this list. Test cricket in the West Indies is probably at its lowest point at the moment. There was a time, particularly in the 1980s, where they dominated Test cricket all over the world, but that has changed, and things have gone downhill in recent years. And in an era where the majority of West Indian batsmen are known for their powerful hitting in white ball cricket, Brathwaite is the exception.

His career strike rate of 41.63 suggests the sort of player that he is. He isn’t an extravagant player, but he judges the line and the length of the ball so well and leaves the ball well outside off stump. He averages 37.94 with the bat and has eight hundreds to his name. He is still only 25, so will get better over the next few years.