Holder issues warning to rival bowlers
WEST Indies captain Jason Holder insists he is not finished with England after dismantling them with the ball and wants to add a century to his efforts in the first Test.
Holder shrugged off concerns over an ankle injury to take a career-best haul of 6-42 as the hosts were rolled over for 204 at the Ageas Bowl.
Now he wants to live up to his status as the world’s No.1 allrounder by doing similar damage with the bat.
“It’s a proud moment getting six wickets in England, anything to help this team, but my role is to contribute with bat and ball,” he said, with the visitors set to resume 147 behind on 57-1.
“I think I’ve soaked it in already. I really want to make some runs now. I have done a good job so far in the first innings but my Test is far from over.
“I have a massive contribution to make with the bat. I’ve ticked one box so far, now it’s left to me to knuckle down and get a hundred.”
England paceman Mark Wood, who approached 95mph in a rapid but wicketless spell in the evening, accepted that the tourists were in a strong position.
“They are on top. They’ve done really well and showed us the way to go,” he said.
“We lost a few wickets quickly, so there’s plenty to put right in the morning. We would have liked 250-300, so we’re a little bit short. But we can’t change that now, we can only affect how it goes from here.”
England’s most similar bowler to Holder is arguably Stuart Broad, left out of a home Test for the first time in eight years here, but Wood believes he and Jofra Archer can find their own way to succeed.
“I was a little bit surprised I was playing... it was a great confidence boost and it’s for me to try and repay that faith over the game,” he said. “Me and Jofra have got our own assets, one of which is bowling fast.”