Holder calls for consistency
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC): aptain Jason Holder is stressing consistency as the key, as West Indies chase their first series victory over Sri Lanka in 15 years, when the two sides clash in the Caribbean in June.
The Windies are coming off a year which saw them win three of 10 Tests, including a 1-0 victory in a two-match series away to Zimbabwe last November.
And Holder believes his side is capable of building on these results once each player strives to be more consistent in the upcoming three-match series.
“They’ve (Sri Lanka) been a good team in the recent past and they’ve been very consistent in what they’ve been doing. We’re at the stage on our careers and we’re looking to make our mark and make a steady progress forward,” Holder told reporters here.
“Last year was a reasonable year for us. We won a few Test matches here and there and we won one Test series as well, so what was good about that year was that the guys got a feel of winning.
“We’ve just got to continue to strive to be consistent - I think consistency has hampered us in the past. I think it is an area that we always have to address, but I
Cthink these two months we have off now, we have to utilise them quite nicely and I think the guys have been preparing quite nicely leading up to this series against Sri Lanka.”
The Sri Lankans have never won a Test series in the Caribbean in three visits, and have managed a single Test win in six matches.
However, they crushed the Windies 2-0 in the last series at home three years ago, when the visitors lost by significant margins in Galle and Colombo.
REBUILDING PHASES
Holder said it was an opportune time to turn around their form against the Sri Lankans, especially with both teams in rebuilding phases.
Holder, who scored his second Test hundred against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, stressed it was also important he continued to lift his performances with both bat and ball in order to be an example for his unit.
“It is just for me to be consistent and contribute in any way I can,” the all-rounder explained.
“I do enjoy both facets of the game and it’s just something for me to be consistent and if I’m going to ask the guys to be consistent, I’ve got to lead in it and that’s been something I’ve been trying to emulate throughout the entire team and be the man to lead the charge.”