Holder and team seek fresh start as England’s Joe Root returns
ꟷ Campbell fit to play
By Brandon Corlette
The second Test match begins today at the familiar Emirates Old Trafford, which the Caribbean men have made their second home. West Indies are 1-0 up in this historic three-match Test series, but that first Test is history. At 6:00h local time today, July 15, the two teams will renew their rivalry, and England would want to bounce back while Jason Holder and his troops would be aiming to close out the series.
Jason Holder and Ben Stokes will continue their rivalry
On the eve of this second Test, Holder confirmed that opener John Campbell is fit to play; and while Phil Simmons called for centuries for the batsmen, captain Holder has also called for the batsmen to convert fifties into centuries. Holder has also urged the bowlers to remain patient and play a consistent brand of cricket.
The focused skipper Holder, who blocks all outside noise, noted that spending so much time at Old Trafford in the build up to the second Test is not an advantage, as he believes the Englishmen are still in their own backyard.
While Holder was discreet in team selection, he is backing Shai Hope to deliver after his recent Test struggles. “Going into the Test series, you want to give players a confidence boost. Shai is a quality player. I have all confidence that he will deliver, he just needs to get himself in, and he will score for us,” Holder posited.
Holder aims to capitalise on the first innings, and the process of posting a good first innings total and restricting England would remain the same mindset of the West Indies, in contrast with playing catch-up cricket. As World number one Test all-rounder and World number two Test bowler, Holder says individuals’ rankings are of little interest to him, but his main goal is to take West Indies to the top of the world of cricket.
Phil Simmons and Jermaine Blackwood in discussion
Holder refuses to become complacent because he believes the win in the first Test is the first piece of the puzzle. Sharing his sentiments on the return of the prolific Joe Root, Holder said the West Indies will have to back up their recent performance and play solid cricket against the world class England team.
Holder had the luxury of speaking to three Prime Ministers of the Caribbean simultaneously on the Mason and Guest radio show on Tuesday. He described that experience as a great one.
The West Indies skipper was also pleased with the reception from all the Caribbean people. “To be on the show with the Prime Minister is great. I was blown away with how closely they followed it, and winning the series will be more pleasing for the Caribbean people,” Holder noted.
Guess who’s back again? The formidable Joe Root
Should the West Indies extend their dominance in this series, they stand on the verge of creating history. If the bowling remains potent and the batting clicks, West Indies would again be a handful for the Englishmen.
West Indies Test squad: Jason Holder (captain), Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Chemar Holder, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer and Kemar Roach.
