Holder highlights gulf between cricket facilities in the Caribbean and India

In a candid conversation with Sportskeeda, West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder has expressed his concern about the state of cricket pitches in the Caribbean, asserting that the quality of training facilities plays a crucial role in the development of players.
Currently at the Rajasthan Royals High Performance Centre in India, Holder couldn’t help but draw a stark comparison between the training grounds in the Caribbean and the state-of-the-art facilities provided by the Royals.
Holder joined the Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of the IPL 2023 season, and provided a much-needed balance to the side. The Rajasthan Royals have set a benchmark in cricketing infrastructure, offering their players a diverse range of eight different pitch variations along with cutting-edge facilities. This stark contrast hasn’t gone unnoticed by Holder, who believes that such facilities are essential for honing skills to a higher standard.

“It’s brilliant. Unfortunately, in the Caribbean, we don’t have facilities that are equivalent to this. We just have normal grounds; there’s no training ground,” Holder remarked as he highlighted the dearth of specialized training facilities in the Caribbean.
Holder emphasized the significance of having a variety of pitches and additional support staff by indicating that the Rajasthan Royals High Performance Centre provides a more comprehensive and tailored training experience compared to the grounds in the Caribbean. The West Indies cricketer is eager to make the most of this opportunity and extract maximum benefits from the top-notch facilities at his disposal.
“I just found it necessary to get away from the Caribbean, do something away from the Caribbean, and do a lot more specific into what I need to work on,” Holder explained as he underscored his decision to seek a more advanced and structured training environment.
Holder also praised the familial atmosphere fostered by the Rajasthan Royals by stating, “It is a really good family that the Royals have here, and they portray that family image.”
This sense of belonging and the conducive training environment have contributed to Holder’s positive experience at the High Performance Centre. The West Indies cricketer is utilizing his time in India to not only focus on physical fitness, but also to refine his tactical skills. The opportunity to train in different conditions, coupled with the structured approach adopted by the Rajasthan Royals, has reignited Holder’s passion for the game, and provided him with a valuable platform for improvement.
As the West Indies all-rounder strives to enhance his cricketing prowess, his insights shed light on the challenges faced by players in the Caribbean, and underscore the importance of investing in advanced training facilities for the development of cricket talent worldwide. (Sportsmax)