Beads of sweat form over West Indies Test captain Jason Holder’s eyebrows and trickle down his cheeks. But it is not because of any fear about his side’s dismal run or bleak future in the longest format of the game.
Things are not going too well for West Indies cricket. World champions in Twenty20, they are languishing at No8 in the ICC Test rankings. In the last two years, they have won just one Test, lost 11 and drawn five.
Skirmish between players and the board is a daily occurrence, and off-the-field news dominates whatever they do on the cricket pitch.
In the run-up to the current tour of the UAE, where they take on ‘hosts’ Pakistan in three Test matches, three ODIs and three T20s, Phil Simmons, their popular coach who guided them to T20 World Cup win, has been sacked, and reports from the Caribbean Islands suggest Holder himself was severely reprimanded for performance of the Test team.
And yet, the 24-year-old from Barbados insists his focus is on the T20s, the first of which will be played in Dubai on Friday, September 23.
Holder, who does not lead the side in the T20s, said after an intense net session at the ICC Academy yesterday: “We are just looking to start the series well. It is important that we start well. We are coming off a very good win against India in the T20 series. We are coming in with a bit of confidence and hopefully, we can carry it in the heat here in Dubai.
Jason Holder trains in the UAE ahead of West Indies T20I and ODI series against Pakistan #ShotOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/DQ3ebAkS4a
— ICC (@ICC) September 17, 2016
“Each format has equal value for us, but it is important that we take it as it comes. We have the T20 series first and I think we need to deal with that first. It’s an important series and we want to keep our ranking very high.
“In the ODIs, we need to improve our rankings. We had a very good Tri-nation series against Australia and South Africa, so we want to improve further.
“The Test series comes in the end. Of course, we are looking to improve in Tests. We are coming off a tough Test series against India, so that should help.”
When asked if he is feeling any pressure regarding his Test captaincy, Holder stuck to his script and said:
“There is a long way to go before we get to the Test series. We have two series to play before that. So we will see about the Test series later. My main focus here is the T20 right now, followed by the ODIs.”
West Indies are missing some of their big stars in the T20 and ODIs, including explosive opener Chris Gayle and all-rounder Andre Russell, but Holder remained confident his team will prove more than a handful for Pakistan in limited over matches.
It's hot hot hot but the players enjoying their work out!!! Great photos!!! https://t.co/kbW1p3ah4V
— westindies (@westindies) September 17, 2016
“It’s obviously a big loss to lose certain players, but obviously, we have some very capable players in the dressing room to fill their boots,” said Holder.
“Evin Lewis was called up at the last minute to replace Chris Gayle, and we saw what he did (100 against India at Lauderhill). I don’t think we are short on personnel. It’s just a matter of everyone getting in and getting used to international circuit.
“We have played a very vibrant brand of cricket, especially in the limited overs, and I think whoever is coming in, has the ability to do the same.”
West Indies are scheduled to play a practice T20 match against the UAE national team on Tuesday, September 20, at the ICC Academy.
