'West Indies could be up there in five years'
Jason Holder on his captaincy, the CPL, and why he backs the proposed changes to the ODI rules
Interview by Jonhenry Wilson
22-May-2015
"We will reap success by pushing ourselves hard and going the extra mile. That's what will get us to No. 1, in all formats" • WICB Media Photo/Philip Spooner
You effectively embody the new direction of West Indies cricket, and are a very young ODI captain at 23. Do you feel the associated pressures?
The pressure is there, yes, but that's quite normal. Coming into an environment you've longed to be in brings with it pressures. Nobody comes into international cricket not looking to perform and do well, but when you perform and are relatively successful individually, the pressures come with it. Not just me, all the players have something they must bring to West Indies cricket. The onus is on all of us, not just one or two, to take West Indies cricket forward, with hard work.
The pressure is there, yes, but that's quite normal. Coming into an environment you've longed to be in brings with it pressures. Nobody comes into international cricket not looking to perform and do well, but when you perform and are relatively successful individually, the pressures come with it. Not just me, all the players have something they must bring to West Indies cricket. The onus is on all of us, not just one or two, to take West Indies cricket forward, with hard work.
You eventually succeeding Denesh Ramdin as Test captain seems more a probability now than a possibility.
I will just take it as it comes. If it comes to a situation where I can take over from Denesh when he is finished, then I'd have to think about it and decide. The ODI captaincy is a big challenge for the time being, and I'm really relishing it.
I will just take it as it comes. If it comes to a situation where I can take over from Denesh when he is finished, then I'd have to think about it and decide. The ODI captaincy is a big challenge for the time being, and I'm really relishing it.
In his new autobiography, Curtly Ambrose says West Indies will take 15 years to become a world cricket powerhouse again. Do you agree with this timeline?
Fifteen years is an extremely long time. I think if we can work hard and put certain things in place in terms of our physical fitness and patterns of our cricket, we will be back among the best - across all formats - within five years. As individuals and as a team, we have to take the time to do this - and do it right. We will reap success by pushing ourselves hard and going the extra mile when it seems really difficult to go the extra mile. That's what will get us to No. 1, in all formats.
Fifteen years is an extremely long time. I think if we can work hard and put certain things in place in terms of our physical fitness and patterns of our cricket, we will be back among the best - across all formats - within five years. As individuals and as a team, we have to take the time to do this - and do it right. We will reap success by pushing ourselves hard and going the extra mile when it seems really difficult to go the extra mile. That's what will get us to No. 1, in all formats.
"The batting Powerplay and the current field limitations mean it's pretty much all about the batting side succeeding. But these new rules could offer more leverage for the bowlers and perhaps leave a bit more room for error"
You've played Test cricket against New Zealand, South Africa and England, but June's series against Australia will arguably be the most challenging of the lot.
The Australians were ranked No. 1 for a long time, and held the post ahead of South Africa recently too. They are a quality team, this we know, especially in Test match cricket. It's only going to be two Tests against them, but it's going to be a great challenge in front of our home crowds.
The Australians were ranked No. 1 for a long time, and held the post ahead of South Africa recently too. They are a quality team, this we know, especially in Test match cricket. It's only going to be two Tests against them, but it's going to be a great challenge in front of our home crowds.
Shai Hope had a disappointing Test debut earlier this month, but he has all the makings of a solid opening batsman for the future.
I've played a lot of cricket alongside and against Shai. He is ready for international cricket, after a prolific run at first-class and one-day level in recent years. He has scored a good few centuries too, which always bodes well for big runs on the biggest stage. If allowed the chance, he will go far.
I've played a lot of cricket alongside and against Shai. He is ready for international cricket, after a prolific run at first-class and one-day level in recent years. He has scored a good few centuries too, which always bodes well for big runs on the biggest stage. If allowed the chance, he will go far.
The ICC is probably going to change some of ODI cricket's rules again, potentially removing the batting Powerplay and introducing less restrictive field placements. Does this please you?
I've heard the talk but have not looked into the possible changes at an in-depth level yet. I do know the eradication of the batting Powerplay will bring the right balance in the battle between bat and ball again. The batting Powerplay and the current field limitations, with only so many fielders allowed outside the circle at certain periods, mean it's pretty much all about the batting side succeeding. But these new rules could offer more leverage for the bowlers and perhaps leave a bit more room for error.
I've heard the talk but have not looked into the possible changes at an in-depth level yet. I do know the eradication of the batting Powerplay will bring the right balance in the battle between bat and ball again. The batting Powerplay and the current field limitations, with only so many fielders allowed outside the circle at certain periods, mean it's pretty much all about the batting side succeeding. But these new rules could offer more leverage for the bowlers and perhaps leave a bit more room for error.
You've played for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL and Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League. How do the tournaments compare?
The IPL is always going to speak for itself, being the biggest domestic T20 tournament in the world. But I prefer the Caribbean Premier League. Playing in front of your home crowd, with familiar faces and at familiar grounds, makes for a great atmosphere. Nothing can compare to the CPL in terms of those aspects.
The IPL is always going to speak for itself, being the biggest domestic T20 tournament in the world. But I prefer the Caribbean Premier League. Playing in front of your home crowd, with familiar faces and at familiar grounds, makes for a great atmosphere. Nothing can compare to the CPL in terms of those aspects.
Barbados Tridents don't boast big-name international signings such as Shahid Afridi or Jacques Kallis, but have the likes of Shoaib Malik, Dilshan Munaweera and Robin Peterson.
I've played alongside Shoaib since the onset of the CPL. He is a wonderful recruit, performs well and is a great team guy. He is instrumental with the rest of the squad, comes across as very professional and gets a good response from everyone in the team. Dilshan is an exceptional player, I have a lot of respect for him. I know Robin, but I have not met Justin Ontong yet. They've got international experience, and they will bring that to the party.
I've played alongside Shoaib since the onset of the CPL. He is a wonderful recruit, performs well and is a great team guy. He is instrumental with the rest of the squad, comes across as very professional and gets a good response from everyone in the team. Dilshan is an exceptional player, I have a lot of respect for him. I know Robin, but I have not met Justin Ontong yet. They've got international experience, and they will bring that to the party.
Will we see a marked difference in the Tridents of 2015 compared to the Tridents of 2014?
We won the competition last year, so there is nothing I really can say as to where the odd aspect or two might have gone wrong. As for what went right, and what I hope will repeat itself, is the crowds that come in. With games being played at night, people are afforded the chance to go to work and then come to the cricket, which works well for all concerned. With the big crowds coming in, we want to oblige them with excellent cricket, so I just hope we are able to do that again.
We won the competition last year, so there is nothing I really can say as to where the odd aspect or two might have gone wrong. As for what went right, and what I hope will repeat itself, is the crowds that come in. With games being played at night, people are afforded the chance to go to work and then come to the cricket, which works well for all concerned. With the big crowds coming in, we want to oblige them with excellent cricket, so I just hope we are able to do that again.
Your West Indies career started some four years after international tours to Pakistan were halted due to the threat of terrorism. The lengthy hiatus will end this month. Would you be willing to follow in the footsteps of Zimbabwe?
I know Zimbabwe are there now, and that's their decision in the end. I wouldn't tour Pakistan now. I'd have to be 100% certain all the right security measures are in place and that the security would always be 100%. I don't know if that assurance can be given at the moment.
I know Zimbabwe are there now, and that's their decision in the end. I wouldn't tour Pakistan now. I'd have to be 100% certain all the right security measures are in place and that the security would always be 100%. I don't know if that assurance can be given at the moment.
Jonhenry Wilson is a cricket writer for Cricket365, SA Cricket magazine and TEAMtalk Media, among others