West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder approaches this week’s first Test against England at Lord’s with optimism, buoyed by the team’s recent successes without him during the Australia tour earlier this year.
Holder, who opted to miss the Australia tour to participate in the ILT20 in the UAE, aimed to prepare himself for the T20 World Cup but expressed concerns over the strain on cricketers due to a packed schedule and the allure of lucrative franchise leagues.
Reflecting on the team’s achievements in his absence, including a historic Test victory in Australia after 27 years, Holder expressed his happiness for his teammates and his renewed motivation to contribute to the team’s success.
“I missed Test cricket. This is my first Test match in a long time, (I’m) looking forward to it,” said Holder, who recently trained with Worcestershire, describing the experience as energizing and affirming.
Despite the challenges posed by recent conditions at Lord’s and England’s home advantage in their past encounters, Holder remains optimistic about breaking the streak and achieving victory for the West Indies.
“That would be an absolutely great feat. I believe in every individual in this group,” he affirmed.
