West Indies skipper Jason Holder mentioned on Tuesday he would hold his captaincy secrets and techniques near his chest as he prepares to go head-to-head with England’s Ben Stokes. The world’s two main Take a look at all-rounders will pit their wits towards one another behind closed doorways in Southampton from Wednesday within the first Test of a three-match series. Stokes might be main England for the primary time within the absence of standard captain Joe Root, who’s lacking the sport to attend the start of his second little one. However Holder, who tops the Take a look at rankings for all-rounders forward of Stokes, has no intention of passing on any commerce secrets and techniques to his rival, even for one recreation, till the sequence is accomplished.
“I am going to depart my recommendation to Stokesy till after the sequence,” Holder instructed a convention name.
“England are in succesful fingers. He is a wonderful cricketer and an ideal competitor and I’m positive the fellows within the dressing room look as much as him too.”
Holder has gained 10 of his 32 Checks as captain, main his facet to a 2-1 sequence win towards England within the Caribbean final yr.
“My captaincy has been made so much simpler by my gamers, significantly the senior guys like Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel, Kraigg Brathwaite, simply to call just a few,” he mentioned.
“These guys have helped tremendously on and off the park and so they’ve made the job so much simpler. I’ve actually loved main this group. It’s a very gifted group.”
The previously dominant West Indies group haven’t gained a Take a look at sequence in England since 1988.
However Holder, taking coronary heart from a slim 2-1 reverse in England three years in the past, mentioned: “If you happen to take a look at the calibre of gamers we have got — Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope have had success right here in England and that’s simply to call just a few. I’m greater than assured that these guys will do effectively on this sequence.”
‘Nurturing Sobers’
Holder himself wants simply 102 extra runs to turn into solely the third West Indian after Garry Sobers and Carl Hooper to attain 2,000 runs and take 100 wickets in Checks.
“I wasn’t conscious of the stat till in all probability a day or two in the past but it surely feels good to know I am in fairly elite firm,” mentioned Holder, who added that Sobers, a fellow Bajan, had lengthy been a supply of inspiration.
“He is one of the crucial optimistic people I’ve ever spoken to,” mentioned the West Indies skipper.
“He simply sees issues from a special gentle and I suppose that is why he was so nice. He is by no means shy of giving data or recommendation and he is a type of guys that might put his arm round you and nurture the following technology.”
Holder added listening to former gamers comparable to Sobers and Everton Weekes, one other Barbados and West Indies cricket nice, who died final week aged 95, had been “electrifying”.
“You may see and sense the eagerness they converse with after they carry these tales to us,” he mentioned.
Promoted
“Sir Everton and Sir Garry are two father figures of not solely West Indies cricket however world cricket.
“Little question we’ll sadly miss Sir Everton however I am positive his reminiscence will dwell on perpetually so might he relaxation in peace.”
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