ICC World Cup 2019 | Our wicket-taking ability has broken back of most teams, says Jason Holder

West Indies had sent a warning bell to all other teams at the World Cup when they blasted 421 runs against New Zealand. The side followed it up with a fantastic bowling performance against Pakistan, where the Jason Holder led side skittled out their opponents for just 105. They did lose the game against Australia next but showed their vigour in a contest where they had an upper hand for most of the part.

West Indies had failed to win a single ODI series since the 2015 World Cup but things have changed now and the side is even regarded as one among the dark horses. The Windies have gone ahead with a full-strength one day squad for the first time in years but Holder feels that the side’s ability to take wickets in the middle overs has sparked the upsurge.

“We have always got wickets with the new ball. But previously we haven’t been able to get wickets in the middle overs. And it’s been the talking point over the last couple of months in one-day cricket and now in this tournament we have been able to get wickets in the middle overs, which has definitely broken the back of most teams,” he said at the pre-match press conference on Thursday, reported AFP.

West Indies will take immense confidence in the fact that they are the only side to have not lost the latest ODI series, prior to the World Cup, against top-ranked England, as the recent series in the Carribean ended in a 2-2 result. Holder’s men will take on the same side at Rose Bowl today and the skipper assured of a fearless brand of cricket.

“I think the brand of cricket we have been playing so far in this World Cup, you know what to expect of West Indies now. For us, we are not going to back down from the challenge. Most of our guys are always up for the challenge and it is just a matter for us to be smart,” expressed the 27-year-old.

“And I don’t think there is anything else to be said, just be smart and play the brand of cricket we want to play,” Holder added.