World Cup: Jason Holder not ready to captain West Indies, says Ottis Gibson
Young skipper needs senior players to play active roles, says ex-Windies coach
Saturday 21 February 2015 08:52, UK
Ottis Gibson says Jason Holder is not yet ready to captain West Indies’ one-day side.
Holder, 23, become the Caribbean outfit’s 50-over skipper when he replaced Dwayne Bravo, who was sacked following the controversial abandoned tour of India late last year.
Former West Indies coach Gibson reckons the Barbadian could become an excellent leader over time but feels he should currently be focusing on bettering himself, having played fewer than 30 one-day internationals.
“I think captaincy is too much for him at this point in time,” Gibson told Sky Sports World Cup.
"I know Jason and he has got the character to elevate himself to captain over time and loves taking responsibility but he has to work on his game at the moment.
"To do that and make sure he is casting an eye in the nets to see how people are performing, sitting in selection meetings, picking players and dealing with media [is difficult], so I am surprised [chairman of selectors] Clive Lloyd has burdened him with the captaincy.
“Darren Sammy will help him as that’s his character but I just hope the other seniors give him the support he needs and go to him rather than wait for him to come to them, as he needs a lot of help.”
Team
Gibson was speaking before West Indies thumped Pakistan by 150 runs in their second World Cup match in Christchurch, a much-needed response from the side’s loss to Ireland last time out.
Sky Sports pundit Nick Knight commentated on the game and was impressed by the way both Holding and his team, who scored 310-6 from their overs before skittling Pakistan for 160, performed.
I am surprised Clive Lloyd has burdened Holder with the captaincy at this time.
However, the ex-England opener fears for Pakistan, who dropped several catches during the Windies’ innings and then slipped to a record-breaking 1-4 when they batted as they suffered their second reverse in as many games.
“Holder has had a difficult time but he led the side well and bowled intelligently by not getting bored by hitting the line outside off stump,” said Knight.
“It was a real team display from West Indies, who looked cohesive, happy and now have something to push them forward, though I am reticent to talk them up too much as they will need every one of their best players in peak form to compete at the back end of the tournament."
“I was really disappointed with Pakistan,” added Knight. “Their fielding was shoddy and, at times, embarrassing to watch and they haven’t got the quality of player they had in yesteryear to be able to get away with that.”
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