Windies look to start Tour of NZ strong

QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand, CMC – West Indies will be looking to get the Tour of New Zealand off to a successful start, when they face the Blackcaps’ “A” Team in a three-day tour match, starting on Friday (6 p.m. on Thursday – East Caribbean Time) at John Davies Oval.

Recently appointed vice captain Roston Chase is set to lead the squad into battle because Test captain Jason Holder is undergoing managed isolation under the country’s COVID-19 protocols, having arrived from the Indian Premier League in Dubai last week.

Left-handed batsman Shimron Hetmyer and compatriot, all-rounder Keemo Paul will also miss the match because of the quarantine measures.

Chase said he was taking the elevation to the vice captaincy role in stride and he would do the same with the additional responsibility of captaincy for the tour match.

“I do not feel any additional pressure because I have always been one of the go-to-guys in terms of seniority in the team, so right now it is only a title for me,” he said. “There is no major difference in me doing anything else.”

Chase said he did not expect the additional responsibilities in the team to weigh too heavily on him.

“I do not think it will bring out a more responsible side of me because I have always been a responsible guy,” he said.

“I will just try to do the same things I have been doing previously and try to encourage the other players a lot more, but I will love to be able to convert more of the starts I have been getting with my batting being vice-captain or not.

“This is just another opportunity for me to communicate with the other players and make them feel as comfortable as possible in performing to best of their ability and to try to get the best out of each person.”