Holden backs England to come out fighting
IT DIDN’T go to plan but England U-19 captain Max Holden believes there is still time for his side to make amends after suffering a 334-run annihilation in the opening ‘Test’ against India at Queen’s Park in Chesterfield.
Having posted 519 in the first innings – the highest total in history between the sides – India were made to wait until late on Wednesday afternoon before eventually completing the rout, after rain stopped play.
England faced the arduous task of surviving 23 overs when play resumed, but strike bowlers Shivam Mavi and Kamresh Nagarkoti – the latter of whom ended with match figures of 10-112 – removed the last three batsmen in just 19 balls.
Despite India’s landslide victory, Holden, who is leading his country in his third ‘Test’ series, believes it is certainly well within England’s capabilities to bounce back at Worcester on Monday.
“There are always positives to take from a game like this,” said the skipper, who made his firstclass debut on loan at Northamptonshire in April.
“When the bowlers did get it right, we looked a threat to them. If we can just do that for longer periods and put the ball in better areas, we can be successful.
“From a batting point of view, we’ve got to find a way of getting ourselves in against tough bowlers and have a few guys who can do things slightly differently.
“I’m still confident we can turn things round – it didn’t go to plan – but there are a few areas where we did do well, and we’ve got a few days’ practice to put things right and move on.
“We know that on our day we can match them.”
The impressive Nagarkoti fittingly wrapped things up by clean bowling off-spinner Amar Virdi after Mavi had done likewise to Josh Tongue and trapped Henry Brookes LBW.
It was a dominant display from a youthful Indian outfit, who bowled their hosts out for 195 and then gave themselves almost a day and half to dismiss England for a second time after declaring their second innings on 173-6.
Mumbai-born prodigy Prithvi Shaw – who once made 546 in one innings as a 13-year-old – followed his first-innings run-aball 86 with 69 off 75 in the second.
Manjot Kalra also joined in on the fun to hit 122 in that mammoth score of 519 as England’s hopes quickly faded.
Holden, who turns 20 in December, is adamant his time at Wantage Road earlier this summer enhanced his development as he scored 153 against Kent and 124 against Durham.
And he has called for more Division One cricketers to be given the chance to gain experience elsewhere through the loan system.
“Playing first-class cricket is the thing that’s going to push young cricketers on,” added Holden.
“I think guys who’ve played a lot of second-team cricket are good enough to get the opportunity of being loaned out. “I was lucky enough this year to spend some time at Northampton and I was very grateful for Middlesex for giving me that opportunity. “I think my game has improved as a result of playing with and against some top, experienced county players. It really pushes you on and hopefully will stand me in good stead for the future.”