West Indies Test captain Jason Holder is unfazed with the fact that he does not gets enough credit when compared to stand-in England captain Ben Stokes gets, insisting he isn’t interested in personal accolades ahead of the first Test starting on Wednesday (July 8) in Southampton.
The opening Test of the three-match Test series is being branded as a clash between the world's best two all-rounders Stokes and Holder but the Windies captain said he isn’t paying attention to such talks, as he is aiming to become the first West Indies captain to win a Test series in England since Viv Richards in 1988.
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However, Jason said it is always a good battle to face someone like Stokes on the field. Holder is currently the number one ranked all-rounder in Test cricket with Stokes placed at the second spot, but England all-rounder is applauding a lot and much talked about among the cricket fraternity and in media in comparison to Windies captain in the cricketing circuit.
However, Holder lamented that he never got enough credit and he didn’t know the reason but was happy to see that Stokes dominates conversation for his skills.
Holder told a news conference ahead of the first Test match, “I don’t really like to get into these personal accolades or ICC rankings. Ben has always been talked up and quite rightfully so, he’s a really good cricketer, but the ICC rankings say that I’m the No. 1 ranked all-rounder and maybe don’t get as much credit as probably I deserve, who knows?”
He further added, “I don’t get caught up with it, to be honest. Journalists are there to write their stories, I am merely here to play cricket. It’s always a good battle on the field when you face competitors like Stokesy, face competitors around the world.”
Meanwhile, the captain was also confident of his formidable-looking bowling attack delivering best against the favorite hosts led by Stokes in the three-match Test series in England.
Holder added, “If you look at the caliber of players we've got -- Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope have had success here in England and that is just to name a few. I am more than confident that these guys will do well in this series.”
The Southampton Test will be Holder’s 33 Test match as captain and he is looking forward to delivering with both bat and ball to help his team “hold on to chances” against England in the Test series.
He has already reached 100 Test wickets against India in Jamaica last year, while needs only 102 runs to reach 2000 in Test cricket that achieved by two other West Indians Garfield Sobers and Carl Hooper.
Holder signed off by saying, “Before captaincy, I'm a player and my performances must stand out: I must perform my role for the team. With bat in hand, I've got to make runs, with the ball in hand I've got to take wickets and, in the field, I've got to help the guys hold on to chances.”
(With Reuters Inputs)
