Holder calls for consistency

Holder calls for consistency
Saturday, July 30 2016



WEST INDIES captain Jason Holder has called for consistency, particularly in the bowling attack, ahead of the Second Test match against India at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica.

The Test match will bowl off today with India holding a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series, after a comfortable innings-and-92-run victory in the First Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua last Sunday.

In a pre-match media conference yesterday, Holder said, “we need to be better than the last game. I spoke about a few areas where I felt we fell down, particularly our bowling wasn’t good enough and we obviously didn’t bat well enough.

“One of the things we should really stress on is consistency and being able to build pressure for long periods. We bowled well in patches and periods and we didn’t sustain that for long enough.” Holder, who, with his brisk medium pace, partnered fast bowler Shannon Gabriel with the new ball, returned figures of no wickets for 83 runs in 24 overs as India amassed 566/8 declared.

The West Indies, in return, were bowled out for 243 and 231 in reply.

“I think I was one of the persons who wasn’t consistent enough,” was how Holder described his bowling display. “For me it’s to just focus on consistency and I have to work out a few things with my action as well.” Teenaged fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has been included in the West Indies 14-man squad for this Test, and there has been debate over who he will replace, if selected in the playing XI.

Holder admitted, “to be fair I have never played against Alzarri, I have never seen him play cricket live. I’ve seen him play cricket on TV and there have obviously been a lot of talking (about) him.

“He has talent, he has the ability with his pace and I support him fully. We just need to get behind him, if he makes his debut (today). If given the opportunity, I wish him all the best.” Asked for his views on the pitch, and how much it will affect the selection of the West Indies team, Holder replied, “we’ll see how this pitch looks. We’ll make the final decision (this) morning.

It’s difficult to predict how the pitch plays in Jamaica.” The West Indies captain stated, “we’re just one-love down with three games to go. It’s just a matter of making significant improvements from the last game into this one. And I have no doubt that we will do it.” One WI player who did himself no favours in Antigua was middle order batsman Jermaine Blackwood, who made a pair of ducks.

But Holder has not written off the right-hander just yet.

“I haven’t picked the team as yet,” said Holder. “Jermaine has done well for us. Yes he’s in a little purple (sic) patch and I support him. I back him 100 percent.

If he’s given the chance to go out there and perform, I have no doubt he’ll go out there and give a good performance. Everybody goes through a rough patch and I have no doubt he’ll turn it around.” As far as the Indians are concerned, opener Murali Vijay has been ruled out due to a thumb injury he sustained when he gloved a ball from Gabriel to Kraigg Brathwaite at second slip, on the first morning of the Antigua Test. His place will most likely go to KL

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