ICC World Cup 2019 | West Indies need to be consistent, says Jason Holder
Jason Holder has said that West Indies need to be consistent in the World Cup, post the side’s eight-wicket loss against England at the Ageas Bowl on Friday. West Indies had started their campaign with a bang as they decimated Pakistan but have lost two games since then while one was washed out.
West Indies had skittled out Pakistan for as less as 105 runs in their opening encounter and won the game by seven wickets, they followed it up with a tight game against Australia, which they eventually lost. The game against South Africa was washed out but the Jason Holder-led side even lost the game against England by eight wickets. West Indies were the only team to have not lost against the hosts in a bilateral ODI series prior to the World Cup but lost in the all important encounter. Holder called out for more consistency from his side.
“We were showing glimpses of what we can produce here in this tournament so far and also in the recent past. First, it is just a matter of bringing it together for long periods, stringing together a complete game and being consistent. I have always spoken about consistency so it’s a matter for us to find it,” he said, reported AFP.
Nicholas Pooran was the only batter from the Windies teamc to score a fifty against England while Shannon Gabriel was the only one to pick two wickets. The skipper asserted the need for individuals to fire up.
“We have to dig deep within to make sure we take responsibility as batters, and as bowlers we keep being aggressive,” expressed the 27-year-old.
After being put into bat first, West Indies lost Evin Lewis’ wicket for two runs but Chris Gayle and Shai Hope steadied their innings and took the side to 47/1 in 12 overs but both the batsmen failed to last long as the side succumbed to 55/3 in 13.2 overs. Shimron Hetmyer and Pooran were involved in a 89-run partnership next but none of the other batsmen were able to get starts. The two-time champions skittled out for 212, which was chased down by their opponents in 33.1 overs with eight wickets in hand. The skipper rued the frequent fall of wickets.
“We were 41-1 I think at the end of the first 10 overs, which was a decent position considering the conditions,” pointed out the Barbados player.
“I thought we lost the game in the middle. Every time we got something going, we lost a wicket. We lost wickets at crucial stages. I just think looking back in hindsight you have to build a few more partnerships and go deeper,” he added.
The big hitting Andre Russell hit 21 runs off 16 balls and was attended by the team physiotherapist in his short stay at the crease due to his knee injury. The all-rounder once again went off the field after bowling two overs. Holder reckoned that the side is persisting with Russell due to the value he brings to the side.
“It’s been difficult so far for him. We have been trying our best to keep him on the park, but it is proving difficult. Yeah, going forward, we have to persist. He is here for a reason. We think he can be a match-winner for us. We have just got to cope with him. Got to do everything we possibly can with him to keep him on the park,” Holder signed off.
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