KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – West Indies captain Jason Holder has backed out-of-form batsman Jermaine Blackwood to regain his touch soon.
The Jamaican suffered the ignominy of a dreaded ‘pair’ in the opening Test in Antigua as West Indies slumped to an innings and 92-run defeat, to fall behind in the four-match series.
He also scored a ‘pair’ against Australia in the Hobart Test last December and has now managed a mere 58 runs from his last seven innings.
“Jermaine has done well for us over the last few seasons. Yes, he’s in a [bad] patch but I support him,” Holder told reporters here yesterday.
“I back him 100 per cent. If he’s given the chance to continue on tomorrow (Saturday), I have no doubt he will go out there and put out a good performance.”
Blackwood had a mixed run last year. He struck his maiden Test hundred against England in the opening Antigua and his half-century in the third Test helped earn West Indies a rare win in Bridgetown.
He got a half-century against the touring Australians and an attacking 92 against Sri Lanka in Galle last October but has only reached double figures three times in nine outings since.
Overall, Blackwood averages 30 from 16 Tests, and Holder said the right-hander was a quality player who he believed would come good soon.
“He’s gotten a Test century [and] he’s done well against some of the best bowling attacks in the world so the ability is there,” Holder contended.
“Everybody goes through a rough patch here and there in cricket. It’s just about him turning it around.”
