Holder confident of Pride’s chances

Barbados Pride Captain Jason Holder has expressed immense confidence that his team has what it takes to lift the CG Insurance Super50 Championship Cup for the ninth time when competition bowls off on February 7th and ends February 27th in Antigua and Barbuda.

Holder said that preparation was going well, even though the number of players training at one given time at Kensington Oval has been reduced because of the protocols attached to the Coronavirus pandemic. 

“Preparation has been going good by all accounts. We had a match scenario today which went well. Obviously, we have been hit with the spike of COVID and that has restricted our practice in such a way that we had to reduce the numbers being present at one particular time.

“We were split into a few groups just to adhere to the protocols which were set out. Apart from that the guys have put their heads down and continued to work. Everybody is upbeat about the tournament. We want to go out there, put on a really good show and win the tournament,” Holder told Barbados TODAY. 

He added: “I don’t think we should be leaving here without believing that we could bring the trophy back. I think we got a really good team as I said before, experience with a bit of youth. So, just think it is a great mixture and a great bunch of guys.”

The 29-year-old is extremely satisfied with the 15-man squad which comprises a good blend of senior and youthful cricketers.

Holder strongly believes that Barbados Pride who last won the Cup back in 2017 have what it takes to get past defending champions West Indies Emerging, and also heavyweights Trinidad and Tobago Red Force who have the record for most Cup wins of 12 in this tournament.

“I am really satisfied with the team. It is a really good mixture between the younger and quote on quote senior fellows. I think the beauty about our team is averaging around a 27-year-old team. It is not too old. We got a few guys who are in their early thirties but the majority of the squad is still quite young.

“And I think the senior guys in the group have played long enough and have played enough cricket around the world to really take the youngsters on board and just really nurture them and show them the way,” Holder explained.

The wicket at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium is a favourite for most batsmen and Holder is looking forward to seeing what it has to offer this time around.

Barbados Pride is coached by Dexter Toppin and his assistant Corey Collymore and have the likes of the Hope brothers Shai and Kyle, in the line-up, also, exciting stroke-makers Nicholas Kirton and West Indies middle order batsman Shamarh Brooks. 

“When you have a tournament based in one country you tend to see the wicket being overused. I expect the wicket to be pretty good upfront but probably midway through the tournament, it starts to tire a bit. But having said that it should be good. Everything has been laid out for us and we know what to expect,” Holder said.

One of ten regional players to decline the tour of Bangladesh, citing personal reasons, Holder said he was looking forward to getting back into cricket.

“Physically my body is not in too bad shape. It’s just to prepare it well and I am looking forward to getting back into cricket,” the former West Indies One Day International and T20 captain added.

The date of departure has not yet been disclosed but the squad was last week announced. The full team includes Jason Holder (captain), Joshua Bishop, Shamarh Brooks, Jonathan Carter, Roston Chase, Dominic Drakes, Jonathan Drakes, Justin Greaves, Keon Harding, Chemar Holder, Kyle Hope, Shai Hope, Akeem Jordan, Nicholas Kirton, Ashley Nurse

Management Team: Dexter Toppin
(head coach), Corey Collymore
(assistant coach), Wendell Coppin (manager), Dr Jacqueline King (physiotherapist), Jamar Layne (video analyst) morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb