KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Captain Jason Holder says he always backs himself to make an impact up front with the new ball, and hopes to continue playing this key role in One-Day International for West Indies.
The lanky seamer snatched his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs last Sunday when he wrecked India’s powerful batting line-up to fire his side to an emphatic 11-run victory in the fourth ODI of the five-match series in Antigua.
With West Indies defending a paltry 189, Holder was brilliant in a seven-over opening spell which cost just 16 runs and accounted for the prized wicket of captain Virat Kohli cheaply.
He returned at the death to snatch four wickets in 16 balls – including two in the final over – to send India tumbling for 178.
“I think with my bounce especially, I strive a lot on that with the new ball and I tend to get some shape as well with the new ball,” the 25-year-old said.
“I entrust myself with the new ball to try and get some early wickets. In the past I have been quite successful in getting early wickets and for me it’s just making early inroads.”
He continued: “In one-day cricket the way it’s going and in the recent past as well, you need to keep getting wickets. Any time you get two set batsmen going into the last 10 overs it could be very, very difficult so for me I just try to break the stem up front and coming back [I] try to be as right as possible.
“Obviously I don’t have the pace factor like a Kesrick Williams or a Alzarri Joseph but I just try to work with my skills and be as skilful as I possibly can.”
Holder assumed reins of the one-day side in December, 2014 but is yet to preside over a series win as West Indies one-day form has continued to decline.
The Barbadian, however, has attracted praise for his handling of the unit and his calmness under pressure, and told reporters he relished the challenges his role served up.
“I always look forward to these kind of occasions. I thought I handled it quite well,” Holder said.
“The guys really, really supported me not only in the field with their suggestions but the bowlers really supported me in the way they came out and bowled. It makes the job easier when guys come and do what is expected of them.”
