West Indies captain Jason Holder upbeat ahead of Australia Test series
Wednesday 9 December 2015 08:52, UK
West Indies captain Jason Holder is convinced his side will pose a serious challenge to Australia in their three-match Test series.
The opening match in Hobart begins on Thursday (live on Sky Sports 2HD from 11.30pm on Wednesday) with the home side warm favourites to secure a series victory against a touring side that lost by 10 wickets to an inexperienced Cricket Australia XI in a warm-up game.
But Holder remains confident they can pull off a surprise if his players perform to their abilities, despite only being ranked above Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in the ICC standings.
"We are very upbeat about this series. It's a fresh series for us, so we have to be positive going into it," said Holder.
"If we realistically do what we have to do in terms of executing our roles then anything is possible on any given day.
"The onus has to be upon each player to perform their role and execute their plans. Once we do that we can put together a strong collective effort."
West Indies team bowling consultant Curtly Ambrose ripped into the players after their embarrassing warm-up defeat and Holder believes the players are keen to make amends.
"Curtly shed a lot of light on where we are at this current time and how we played that warm-up game," Holder added.
"We're in that situation where we have to just put that behind us."
Holder also tried to turn the heat back onto Australia by highlighting some perceived weaknesses in their line-up.
"If we can get into their middle order as quickly as possible, that will be better off for us," he said.
"Davey Warner is coming off a very good series against New Zealand, and [with] Steve Smith they scored the bulk of the runs in the last series played.
"So if we can target them in a sense of getting them out as early as possible then we can put pressure on their middle order."
Holder said the reinstatement of Phil Simmons as coach, after he was suspended for the Sri Lanka tour in a row over selection, was also a major boost to the team.
"It makes a significant difference. He is implementing his ways and I think the guys have really bought into what he has brought," said Holder.
"Losing him during the Sri Lanka series was a very big loss especially at that stage as I was practically on my way to the airport when I got the news he was not going to be joining us.
"That really shattered the dressing room so it's just very good to have him back and I'm sure he will be on the guys to put things in place and get ready for this game."
Live Test Cricket
West Indies team (from) - Kraigg Brathwaite, Rajendra Chandrika, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Jermaine Blackwood, Denesh Ramdin, Jason Holder (capt), Carlos Brathwaite, Devendra Bishoo, Kemar Roach, Jerome Taylor, Shannon Gabriel.
Watch the first Test between Australia and West Indies. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 2 at 11:30pm on Wednesday.
