HUSSAIN: WAS IT A TOUGH CALL TO COME TO ENGLAND? HOLDER: NO. I WAS BORED AND DOING TOO MUCH EATING AND DRINKING!
WEST INDIES CAPTAIN JASON HOLDER TALKS TO NASSER HUSSAIN ABOUT TEST CRICKET’S RETURN
He has brought West Indies to england for a three-Test series in the most demanding conditions and has had to face issues no cricket captain can have envisaged.
Jason holder, adapting to life in a biosecure bubble at Old Trafford with his team, talked remotely with Sportsmail columnist Nasser hussain about bringing a team to another country during the pandemic, the Black Lives Matter protests — and cricket.
NASSER HUSSAIN: Jason, tell us about quarantine. What’s it like? What are the bad sides and is there anything good at all?
JASON HOLDER: It’s not as bad as I feared it might be. We’ve got a team room with lots of activities going on like dominoes and table tennis. There’s a golf simulator and a mini-basketball court.
so there are a lot of things to keep the guys busy and sane. We’ve started to practise and we’ve been tested twice so far for the virus and all tests have been negative, so we are nearly good to go with the first of our two inter-squad practice matches.
NASSER: You will have been aware of the levels of death and illness from the virus in the UK and how hard it has been hitting the BaMe community. Was there a time when you thought, ‘Cricket’s important but it’s not that important. I’m going to stay in Barbados’?
JASON: Initially I was very sceptical but I think the eCB have done an outstanding job. They dotted all the I’s and crossed all the T’s to get this series on.
We could say some of the things we’re doing are a little unnecessary but that’s what we have to do. When we first talked about all this, we had all the information we needed and getting the message across to the players was very important. Not only getting it across but how we got it across.
They had to know exactly what was going on so they could have full confidence and trust that we were giving them the full story. after lots of planning and deliberations we got to the point where the guys were comfortable in coming over to play cricket.
NASSER: I guess you had to emphasise the responsibility to the game in getting cricket started again?
JASON: Personally, I was just bored not playing cricket! There was a lot of eating and drinking going on and it was good to have the opportunity to come and play.
We just had to make sure the eCB could deliver the protocols they promised and after that it wasn’t a hard sell. I don’t think this situation is going to go away any time soon, so for us to just sit at home wasn’t right. If you think of all the frontline workers who have risked their lives to make sure we’re all safe you have to get on with it.
It’s not ideal playing in empty stadiums but we’d much rather be playing cricket than sitting at home watching other sport on TV.
NASSER: Well, I hope what you guys have done for our game is appreciated. You could never have dreamed as a kid in Barbados that you would have to become a biosecurity expert?
JASON: My hands are drying up from all the hand sanitiser! I try to think about people who are less fortunate. I must commend the governments and people of the West Indies for how they have dealt with this and we all have to just get to grips with what’s going on. Once we’ve done that we can find creative ways to get back to normal.
NASSER: Three of your players decided not to come: Darren Bravo, shimron hetmyer and Keemo Paul. It was such a hard decision for everyone. It won’t be held against them, will it?
JASON: I hope not! Certainly from my perspective it won’t be. everyone had a decision to make and a lot of our players have kids. I know that was the biggest challenge: leaving their kids at home to potentially be exposed to bringing the virus back home.
I do wish the three players all the best and I know they will be at home supporting us. We are all one big family and we just have to do what we need to do here.
NASSER: I promise I’ll get on to cricket soon but there was another big situation you walked into when you arrived here — the Black Lives Matter protests.
You spoke very eloquently about this in your opening press conference. You have been an impressive leader. You said you would speak to your team about how to show solidarity with the situation. have you had that chat?
JASON: We’ve had a chat. It’s an ongoing discussion in the group and we’ve shared many opinions. a lot of really good ideas have come out of it. For me, one of the most important things is to hear how england view it and if needs be to help them become aware of what we can do, because this is really important, not only for cricket but the world dynamic.
We have a few things on the table so when we do show our solidarity — and I’ve told the press we will — it will be impactful. It’s something that hits home deeply to us and we want to show our support to the movement.
This goes back way before our times and racism is something that has to be eradicated. There must be equality and there must be unity. Until we get that as people, we mustn’t stop. We have to find some way to have equal rights and people must not be viewed differently because of the colour of their skin or ethnic background.
I’m sure the england players will make a gesture and it would be good if cricket sends a really strong message. It’s important we’re not only viewed as cricketers. We need to be ambassadors.
NASSER: They are incredibly powerful words. It’s difficult to go from that to a game of cricket. It would be easy to forget about the Test series but you are captain of West Indies, who hold the Wisden Trophy. You will have to switch on. how important is that message for your team, to remember what you’re here for?
JASON: Cricket is our priority. We’ve come here to play cricket. With that in mind we have to be professional enough to beat england in their own backyard.
West Indies players of the recent past have not had the privilege of doing that. That’s the driving force for us. The guys are just relishing another chance to play england in england. a lot of them feel they let West Indies down last time we were here and we believe once we get more acclimatised to conditions we stand a really good chance.
We know england are strong, all the wickets Jimmy anderson and stuart Broad have taken. Then they have Jofra archer, who is the new kid on the block. and of course Ben stokes is a massive competitor.
The only problem is that there won’t be any fans in the ground. I love playing in england because the atmosphere is usually phenomenal. The songs of the Barmy army and all the rest of it.
NASSER: You mention Jofra. he’s the new kid from your block! he’s from Barbados and there are a lot of Bajans in your squad. I know we have social distancing but are you really going to completely distance yourselves from Jofra?
JASON: Once we’re competing on the field and making sure we’re not handing him any wickets, we could always come together off the field. I’ve no doubt he’s going to enjoy this opportunity and we’re going to enjoy the opportunity of playing against him.
We really don’t want him to win but we’ve got our work cut out because he’s a quality bowler.
I played a video game against Chris Jordan and Jofra for a TV show a couple of weeks ago and we exchanged a few messages. he’s looking forward to this series and so are we.
NASSER: Jofra is a brilliant fast bowler but you’re not short of them yourselves. Yourself, Kemar Roach, alzarri Joseph, shannon Gabriel, Oshane Thomas. In english conditions with a Duke ball, that’s a very good attack.
JASON: Yes and it’s one that’s done very well in the last three years. Look at shannon and Kemar’s numbers. Mine have been up there too. and then there’s alzarri.
I will always remember how he stepped up against england last year. his mother passed away in the middle of a Test, but he still wanted to play. he’s matured and improved in leaps and bounds. Our attack is good enough to take on most teams.
NASSER: I’m going to embarrass you now because you’re a humble man but look at your numbers. In your last nine Tests you’ve taken 50 wickets at 12 apiece with five
five-wicket hauls. You’re the No 1 ranked all-rounder in Test cricket. And you made a double hundred against England last time. Do you think we sometimes forget how good Jason Holder is? Are you happy sneaking under the radar?
JASON: It’s a funny question because I’ve been asked what it means to be the No 1 ranked all-rounder and I say it means nothing. Look at all the media platforms and there’s so much talk about Stokesey, Virat Kohli and Steve Smith and the powerhouses from the big three cricket nations.
Most of the stories that come out are about players from England, India and Australia. You don’t see much about West Indies, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
It can motivate you because you want your team to be recognised for how good they are. I like this group because of the talent we have and our work ethic.
England have a lot more resources than us. They have a lot more money than us. Yet we will still compete. We have shown we can compete with the best in the world. Personal accolades will not mean anything until we move up the rankings.
NASSER: One thing that might affect you is the new rule that stops bowlers putting saliva on the ball. You’re someone who relies on movement. How are you finding it in practice?
JASON: I’ve only just started bowling because I twisted my ankle on the first day of practice. Now I’m just trying to get some mileage in my legs and so far we have seen a bit of movement in the nets.
We just need to get into good habits but it’s hard to break the habits of a lifetime because we have put saliva on the ball all our lives. And you don’t sweat too much in English weather.
I think in the practice games we will find out the best ways to manage the ball.
It is frustrating because all our Covid tests have been negative, so you wonder why you can’t shine the ball, but you understand why this has happened.
NASSER: Tell us about the newcomer in your attack. Chemar Holder took 36 wickets in your first- class competition and that was with a couple of games being abandoned. He looks a real prospect.
JASON: The thing that stands out for me is that he’s a fit, young bowler. If he continues to be as disciplined as he has been over the last couple of seasons and stays fit and healthy, he’s going to be a big prospect for West Indies.
We’ve got a lot of good, young fast bowlers. The challenge is for the batsmen to match up and the level of first- class cricket has to improve at home so we have the best cricketers playing against each other on good pitches.
NASSER: Where are your runs going to come from? Will it be the two lads who did so much to win the 2017 Headingley Test for you: Shai Hope and Kraigg Brathwaite?
JASON: Those two stand out because of their track record in England. But we have some other exciting batters.
Shamarh Brooks got a hundred in our last Test. John Campbell also made runs then and has tightened his game up a lot.
If we can keep the intensity high in practice then we will get accustomed to the bowling they will face. But there is only one Stuart Broad and one Jimmy Anderson. I’ve got confidence in the group and we’re shaping up nicely.
NASSER: People have been foolish in writing off West Indies in the past. Would anybody be a fool to write off West Indies now?
JASON: Definitely. Anyone would be silly to write us off. It has happened in the past and we have made people eat their words.
I’m confident we will do really well. I think this is going to be a really good series.