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West Indies‘ seasoned all-rounder, Jason Holder, has provided insights into his decision to opt out of the two-match Test series during the West Indies’ tour of Australia.
West Indies Test squad
Seven uncapped players find a place in the 15-member West Indies squad for the upcoming two-Test series in Australia. Holder and Kyle Mayers will be absent from the touring party. The West Indies tour of Australia is scheduled to kick off with the inaugural Test in Adelaide on January 17, followed by a pink ball game at the Gabba in Brisbane from January 25.
Jason Holder clarifies decision to opt out of Australia series
Now in a conversation with ESPNcricinfo, Holder emphasized that Test cricket remains among his top priorities, even though he has chosen not to participate in the red-ball fixtures in Australia.
“By no means is this me turning my back on Test cricket. It’s not curtains for me in Test cricket by any means. It’s my first time going through something like this and I felt that it was necessary to be as honest and as open with CWI as I possibly can. It was a very difficult decision: I just feel as though this is the right cricketing decision for me at this time,” Holder said.
Strategic approach for T20 World Cup
However, the Bridgetown cricketer believes it is in his best interest to focus on playing as much T20 cricket as possible in preparation for the upcoming World Cup next year. Holder further explained that he wants to ensure he gives himself the best opportunity to be part of the T20 World Cup 2024.
“It was a difficult one. But as much as I love Test cricket, I want to give myself the best chance of playing in that World Cup. I felt it was probably best to prioritise and focus on playing as much T20 cricket leading up to that as possible. I will probably sleep a little bit better knowing that I’ve given myself the best opportunity to do that,” the seam-bowling all rounder added.
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World Cup aspirations
Holder expressed his eagerness to play a World Cup at home, highlighting his strong desire to contribute to West Indies’ chances of winning the T20 World Cup and make it a special experience for their passionate fans.
“I’ve never played a World Cup at home: I really, really want to be a part of it because I love playing in front of the fans in the Caribbean. I think we’ve really got a good chance of lifting the trophy… the cricket that we’ve been playing in the last couple of months gives us real encouragement that we can go there and do something special. Why wouldn’t I want to give myself the best chance to be a part of it?” the 32-year-old concluded.
