West Indies batsmen told to start delivering
Caribbean Life, December 11-17, 2020 31
By Nelson A. King
West Indies’ Test captain
Jason Holder has called on his
teammates, particularly the
batsmen, to “look in the mirror”
after the team’s heaviest
defeat against New Zealand in
the first Test by an innings and
134 runs.
New Zealand bowled out
West Indies for 138 and 247
on a Seddon Park surface that
saw the home score 519 for
7, despite losing the toss and
being sent in, ESPNcricinfo
said.
It noted that West Indies’
second innings was rescued
from a collapse by a 155-run
stand for the seventh wicket
between Jermaine Blackwood
(104) and Alzarri Joseph (86).
But apart from them, no
West Indies batsman crossed
30 across two innings, ESPNcricinfo
said.
Holder said that his batsmen
can learn a lot from the way
New Zealand Captain, Kane
Williamson batted.
The top five West Indies
batsmen only totaled 100
runs between them across
two innings, and Holder didn’t
mince words at the post-match
presentation, saying the top
order needed to stand up,
according to ESPNcricinfo.
“I think it’s time we start
delivering and stopped talking,”
Holder said. “We’ve talked
a lot, we’ve promised a lot,”
he said. “I think it’s a matter
for us to all look ourselves
in the mirror and understand
that we’ve got to fight a little
harder.
“We’re just probably throwing
the towel in too easily, just
being honest,” he added. “We’ve
just got to turn it around, and
only we can do it.
“We’ve had brilliant support
from this management and
staff, they’ve put everything in
place,” Holder continued. “It’s
just for us to live up to it.”
He credited to Blackwood
and Joseph for bringing “some
respectability” towards West
Indies batting.
“But, quite frankly, our top
order just needs to stand up,”
said Holder, asking his batsmen
to “shelve certain shots
early in their innings,” according
to ESPNcricinfo.
“In all honesty, we’re still
scratching our heads,” Holder
said. “Leading up to the first
Test, I felt the preparation was
good. I think our preparation
has always been really good.
It’s just trying to send it out
into the Test circuit.
“We had two solid warm-up
games in Queenstown; albeit
the surfaces were a little bit
different to what we’ve come
up against here in Hamilton,”
he added. “But I still think
a little bit more application
needs to be shown, particularly
up front. I think, up front,
we’ve got to work a little bit
harder.
“We’ve seen how the New
Zealand bowlers, like any other
bowlers in the world, they tend
to get flat as partnerships
build,” Holder continued. “We
just need to be able to understand
that, fight a lot harder,
keep them out there a little bit
longer, even if we give up one
or two scoring shots that we
feel as though we can count on
to pounce on early.
“The longer you spend
(at the crease) the easier it
becomes,” the West Indies Test
captain said. “There’s a lot of
things we need to look at; we
need answers and we need
them quickly.”
West Indies’ Jason Holder, as play resumes behind closed
doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease
(COVID-19) in England. Jon Super/Pool via REUTERS, fi le
NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN
ANNUAL
Caribbean Life's Annual Impact Awards recognizes the
achievements and contributions of outstanding individuals
of Caribbean background who have created the most
impact in their respective career fields — from the arts, to
advocacy, entrepreneurship, and much more. By
establishing themselves in these lanes, they’ve helped
continue opening the path for incoming immigrants and
inspiring generations to come.
Submit your nomination
www.CaribbeanImpactAwards.com/Nominate2020
or call Amanda Tarley at 718 249 9640
Sponsored by
/Nominate2020
/Nominate2020
