‘I haven’t been home in 6months’
West Indies cricket captain Jason Holder last set foot in his house in Barbados in June. With a rueful smile, he says he doesn’t know when he’ll be back there.
Yes, his side was outplayed 2-0 by the Black Caps in the two-test series but the skipper offered some perspective for cricket watchers, under the Basin Reserve’s R.A Vance Stand yesterday.
Holder and his team donned masks and flew to England in a tour bubble in June with Covid-19 firming its grip on the world, and somehow beat their hosts by four wickets in the first test at Southampton in July.
Holder then played two Twenty20 tournaments in Covid bubbles – the Caribbean Premier League in Trinidad (Barbados Tridents) and the India Premier League in the United Arab Emirates (Sunrisers Hyderabad alongside Kane Williamson) – before flying to New Zealand last month for 14 days of managed isolation.
Now, after his side’s innings and 12 run loss in Wellington, Holder, 29, flies out to join Sydney Sixers for a three-match cameo in Australia’s Big Bash League before a potential West Indies tour of Bangladesh in January. And the players haven’t even received their full pay in 2020.
‘‘Credit to every individual who has made a sacrifice. Their health, the risk and travelling around the world in this pandemic,’’ Holder said.
‘‘It has been a tough year. Not just for the team but for me personally. I haven’t seen home in six months now. I have been going non stop. We have had pay cuts. It’s a situation where you’re still trying to make a living and make use of every opportunity you get.
‘‘But going from bubble to bubble and being isolated into a room ... it sometimes gets smaller and smaller by the second. I know a few of the guys have got tired minds. It would be good to get home for a little while, for Christmas and to spend time with their families.’’
But not for Holder, whose journey continues.
So when will Holder next be home?
‘‘I don’t know. At this point I am still enjoying it. Still enjoying moving around. I’m trying to make use of every opportunity I get and hope it works out for me.’’
Holder rated his team ‘‘good in patches’’ in Wellington. After winning the toss, and dropping Henry Nicholls three times before he reached 50, the Black Caps plundered 460 then skittled the touring side for 131.
‘‘I thought our bowlers were outstanding. Just tough we didn’t take our opportunities when they came. It just shows that when you give quality players two, three, or four hands in one test match they will make you pay.
‘‘When we batted in the first innings we didn’t set up the game very well.’’
Holder (61) and debutant Joshua da Silva (57) showed some fight on Sunday but the damage was done, and the Black Caps took the required four wickets for victory in an hour yesterday.
The West Indies captain said the home officials did a reasonable job, but wants neutral umpires to return. Due to Covid19, home town officials are standing in all internationals, with an extra decision review allowed for each team.