Justin Greaves speaks on the step up to Test Cricket having worked on his fitness and skills to adapt to different conditions.
Justin Greaves: ‘Test cricket a massive step up from first-class cricket in Caribbean’.
Test cricket is a “massive step up” from first-class cricket in the West Indies, according to all-rounder Justin Greaves.
The 31-year-old Greaves just finished the first Test in Christchurch with a match-saving 202 not out against New Zealand. He started his innings with the West Indies 72 for 4 on the fourth day, chasing 531. To enable them survive 163.3 overs and salvage a draw, Greaves batted for almost nine and a half hours against 388 balls. He claimed that his game had improved as a result of the lessons he learnt from speaking with Jason Holder.
“It [Test cricket] is a massive step up from first-class cricket in the Caribbean,” Greaves said. “It’s a lot more demanding both physically and mentally. This is where I always wanted to be – so I had to change the way I train, both strength-and-conditioning and skill-wise. Enjoying it, learning as I go along.
“If I can pick up some tips from the other successful allrounders around the world when we play against them, I pretty much do that. I lean on Jason Holder, who’s been around with the T20 squad when I’m here. I’ve dropped him a few messages in terms of finding out what he’s done to have the career he’s had in Test cricket so far.”
Greaves was part of the West Indies Test teams that toured Australia in 2023-24 and Pakistan earlier this year. He has played 12 Tests so far. Travelling to and playing in different countries has required him to get stronger, eat better, and learn to be patient.
“Everything had to change because it’s not easy being on the road [in] different conditions,” Greaves said. “When you’re at home, it’s pretty easy because you know pretty much all the conditions in the Caribbean, and then, coming overseas, playing cricket in Australia and then to Pakistan, and here now, in New Zealand, everything is different.
“Adapting to that in the gym, getting stronger, eating better in terms of food, putting on a bit more muscle as well, and being a bit stronger; skill-wise, adding a bit more to my game; [while] batting – being a bit more patient because at this level, everything is not given to you. Bowling-wise, being the allrounder in the team, you can be bowling, and within an hour or two, you could be batting again. So, you’re putting your mind to it, and adapting to change.”