Holder relishes “new beginning” as he leads Patriots in CPL opener

The 13th edition of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is set to get underway in St Kitts and Nevis this evening, and for the hosting Patriots there will be some new beginnings.
After finishing at the bottom of the table for two consecutive years, the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots will be looking to turn things around this season, under the leadership of West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder.
During a pre-match press conference, Holder, who comes from the Barbados Royals, addressed his new star, eager to take on the challenge of the CPL.
“Just happy to be here in a new franchise; personally, it’s a new beginning, and hopefully I can bring some great things to this franchise. They’ve obviously had success in the past, and, you know, this is just a team that wants to do really well. So, we’re looking forward to this challenge this year,” Holder shared during the press briefing.

Speaking on his departure from the Royals, Holder admitted that it was a tough decision and clarified that it had nothing to do with captaincy.
The Barbadian player explained, “Yeah, it’s always tough leaving a franchise- the only franchise you’ve played for in a competition. It wasn’t an easy decision, but I think the opportunity presented itself here; I quite liked the opportunity. I thought at this point of my career, I wanted a new challenge as well, and you know, playing for Barbados was great, but it’s so good to feel as though I’m making a new home here in St Kitts.”
“I like what St Kitts has to offer; it attracted me here to St Kitts, so this is my new home.”
“The decision to move had nothing to do with captaincy. It was more or less just finding a new challenge or a new opportunity. The captaincy came afterwards, and when asked, I said, ‘Why not?’. But looking at my personal career, I just felt it’s something I wanted to do,” he went on to clarify.
Expressing his intention for positive leadership, Holder highlighted how important belief and confidence will be in his camp.
“We’ve just got to turn up with a good attitude and believe that we can win. If we don’t believe that we can win and each person doesn’t tick their boxes as an individual and carry out their role, then I don’t think we have a chance at winning, and it’s my job and the coaching staff’s job to really instil that belief and confidence in every individual that we have to execute their role,” Holder explained.
He went on to add, “Cricket is a team sport, but there are so many individual components to it, and I think if each individual can understand what their value is to the team and deliver, then more often than not I think we’ll win more games than we lose.”
Hoping to start on a winning note today, the all-rounder also shared fears of peaking too early in the competition.
“The first game is very important; I don’t want to downplay it. I think all the home games are very important because you want to make use of your home advantage.”
Holder further divulged, “I think if we can go through this first phase with not too much damage, you know, winning a few games, it obviously puts us in a really good position going into the deeper half of the competition. Another thing you don’t want to do is peak too early and then fade. So, I’m very confident with the team, I’m very happy with the team, and I’m very happy with the management staff. This is my first time, as I said before. Everybody’s made me feel welcomed. I haven’t had any hiccups, so I’m looking forward to a really good tournament.”
The St Kitts and Nevis Patriots will take on the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in their first match this evening, which is set to bowl off at 19:00h.