Jason Holder feels Windies bowling needs improvement

India toured West Indies amidst major off-field controversies, and a weak Windies could have capitalised on their mental disturbance, but that didn’t happen. While the first ODI was washed out due to incessant rains, the second one, which was also rain curtailed, that Team India won. The hosts ranked 9th on ICC ODI rankings will have to do something special to challenge a bowling and batting line up as strong as India’s.

Captain Jason Holder has realised that their weakest suit is the bowling, and they need to get it right in the remaining ODIs. India’s batting line-up can easily post scores of 300 plus, which becomes difficult for the hosts to chase. Trailing 0-1 in the five-ODI series, the hosts need to win the third match to still feel competitive in the series.

“We need to worry about our bowling. Obviously chasing over 300 runs is always going to be difficult,” Holder said on the eve of the third ODI in Antigua. When asked to comment on the batting department, the captain emphasised on having good starts. “We are looking for a much better start than in the previous game. We kept losing wickets and couldn’t get our momentum going,” he said.

Praise for Hope

For the remainder of the series, which means 3 more games, the hosts have made two changes. Keiran Powell has been replaced by Kyle Hope, on whom the skipper heaped praises. Also, wicketkeeper-batsman Sunil Ambris has also been drafted into the squad.

“I think he brings a lot, exuberance of youth and is a great fielder. He has been playing a lot of domestic cricket. I have grown up playing with him, so he is a phenomenal scorer,” said Holder.

While Holder may not have been a very successful captain so far, they have tasted a few wins, which keeps them motivated to keep on playing better.

“The results haven’t been great. But there has been success here and there, it has given me the encouragement to keep going. When you have success with the team, it doesn’t keep you away from doing what you love. That keeps me going. I am thoroughly enjoying it,” said Holder.