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Horses for courses

by Barbados Today
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Chemar Holder has taken seven wickets in the match so far. (CWI)

Chief selector Roger Harper has defended the non-selection of promising Barbadian fast bowler Chemar Holder in the 15-man Test squad for the two-match series in Bangladesh, contending his panel had picked “horses for courses” to accommodate the spin friendly conditions in the south Asian country.

Three specialist fast bowlers – veteran Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel and Alzarri Joseph – were included in the squad, with left-arm fast bowling all-rounder, Raymon Reifer also a part of the touring party.

And with selectors opting for two left-arm spinners in Veerasammy Permaul and Jomel Warrican, along with off-spinning all-rounder, Rahkeem Cornwall, Harper said there was no room for the 22-year-old Holder.

“We have picked a bowling attack which is more suited to the conditions which we are likely to come up against so it is a matter of horses for courses,” Harper told Starcom Radio’s Best and Mason cricket show.

“I think Chemar Holder bowled pretty well in his first outing at the Test level, and his omission has nothing to do with his ability or performance but the fact that we’re touring Bangladesh and we think that spin will play a big part.

“So, we wanted to make sure we were very equipped in that area.”

Holder, one of the heroes of West Indies Under-19s capture of the ICC Youth World Cup four years ago, shot to prominence in the last first class season when he picked up 36 wickets for Barbados Pride – the best returns by a seamer.

The performance saw him force his way into the touring party for the subsequent three-Test series in England last July and while he failed to break into the XI, he made his debut earlier this month in the second of the two Tests against New Zealand in Wellington.

Replacing fellow Barbadian Kemar Roach who was forced to return home following the death of his father, Holder picked up two wickets in New Zealand’s first innings of 460 but was not required again as West Indies went down by an innings and 12 runs inside four days at the Basin Reserve.

With questions raised about Holder’s omission, Harper stressed his non-selection was not an indication of a lack of ability or disappointment with his recent performance.

“The fact of the matter is, a lot of people have asked the same questions of people who were left out in other tours,” Harper argued.

“Some guys did extremely well in regional competitions and weren’t picked for tours. They took much more wickets than Holder did.”

He continued: “We picked a team based on conditions that we’re likely to face, the bowling attack was picked on the conditions we’re likely to face and it is unfortunate that Chemar missed out.

“However, it is not an indication of what we think about his ability and his performance in his first Test. Come the international competitions in the West Indies, we might look at things very differently.”

Holder, however, is one of eight players without One-Day International experience named in a 15-man squad for the three-match ODI series which will be played prior to the Test series.

Meanwhile, both the Test and ODI squads have been ravaged by the exodus of key players with captains Jason Holder and Kieron Pollard, along with Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran all declining selection due to “COVID-19 related concerns or personal fears”.

But Harper backed both squads to remain competitive despite the absence of the first choice players.

“Touring Bangladesh for cricket is not easy,” the former West Indies off-spinner warned.

“Bangladesh is a team that plays well in its own conditions but I really believe the group of players we’ve put together, the squad for both the Test series and the ODIs will be very competitive and will give a good account of themselves, and I think we can come away with some positive results from this series.”

West Indies are scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on January 10 for the tour running from January 20 to February 15. (BT)

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