Make region’s pitches pacier, urges Holder

HAMILTON, New Zealand – Captain Jason Holder wants bouncier pitches in the Caribbean in order to help West Indies’ batsmen with their acclimatization process on international tours like New Zealand and Australia.

The 29-year-old all-rounder was speaking in the wake of his side’s heavy innings and 134-run defeat to the Black Caps inside four days on Sunday, with the tourists’ battings struggling to cope with the hosts’ five-pronged seam attack on a grassy pitch at Seddon Park.

West Indies were dismissed for 138 in their first innings and forced to follow on by 381 runs, were bowled out in their second innings for 247.

“Not making an excuse but we’ve not had these kinds of pitches in the Caribbean for a long time and if we could probably have a few more conditions in the Caribbean to replicate such conditions here in New Zealand and maybe Australia where you get a bit more bounce and carry, then more often than not guys would get accustomed to seeing it,” Holder told reporters.

“Having said that, we’re still international cricketers and we have to make the adjustment.”

Though boasting a rich tradition of world class fast bowlers, the Caribbean has become known in recent years for slow, low pitches, with more assistance for spinners than seamers.

And with the Seddon Park strip almost as green as the outfield, West Indies batsmen were never comfortable and only Jermaine Blackwood with 104 in the second innings and tail-ender Alzarri Joseph, with 86, showed any fight.

Holder said with the second Test starting on Friday (Thursday, Eastern Caribbean time), it was important West Indies did some serious introspection and regrouped quickly.

“We’ve just got to do some soul-searching. It’s not a big turnaround in between games, just a few days and we’re back into it again so it’s a matter for the batters just to work it out a little more and find ways to get through,” Holder pointed out.

“Ideally, I thought the preparation was spot on. I don’t know how much longer we could come up here and spend prior to a tour. You had two weeks quarantine, two-and-a-half weeks of preparation – probably three weeks – preparing for this Test match. I think that is enough time.

“I think we’ve just got to find a way to transcend some of the practice time and efforts in training onto the cricket and field and that’s the difference and that’s the difference.

“We can do it time and time again in practice under no pressure but the moment you cross that line for a cricket that’s when it really counts so I think we need to adapt a little bit faster.”

Sent in, New Zealand piled up 519 for seven declared with Kane Williamson hitting a career-best 251 but after ending day two on 49 without loss, West Indies were dismissed cheaply in their first innings on the third day before crumbling to 30 for four at tea after being asked to follow on.

Only a 155-run, seventh wicket stand between Blackwood and Joseph saved West Indies from a three-day defeat.

“Obviously we didn’t bat well in this Test match. I think in the recent past our batting has been inconsistent and it’s probably been our problem in the last couple years,” Holder conceded.

“From here to Wellington, we’ve got to switch on a little bit more, dig a little deeper. I feel up front in the early stages of our innings we needed to buckle down a little bit more, fight a little harder in those tough periods and get through them.

“For example, when New Zealand spent a day in the field, coming back out this morning, they seemed a bit more jaded obviously. They’re human, obviously, they’re normal people as well too. We need to make them bowl two, three spells, give ourselves a chance up front and cash in at the back end.”

Pointing to the first innings opening stand of 53 between John Campbell and Kraigg Brathwaite, Holder said that was the way the Windies wanted to play.

“I commended the guys for that because I felt that was a crucial moment in the game. Had New Zealand gotten into our middle order that evening, it could have been a lot different coming into the third day’s play,” the 29-year-old explained.

“That application is what we’re looking for a little bit more of from our top order. The way the guys really knuckled down, left the ball really well … and what was really disappointing to see was the following day after doing the hard work the evening before, we didn’t come in and show the same application.”
(BT)