Latest News
Action, not a bag a mouth! - Holder urges players to stop talking and start delivering
December 07, 2020
West Indies captain Jason Holder is livid at the performance of his team following their heavy inning-and-134-run loss to New Zealand in the first Test in Hamilton.
The West Indies made 138 and 247 replying to New Zealand's mammoth score of 519 for seven declared.
The regional side could have been even more embarrassed were it not for a resolute 155-run, seventh-wicket stand between Jermaine Blackwood, who made 104, and Alzarri Joseph, who got 86 in the second innings.
None of the other batters got past 30 runs in either inning, with the top five totalling 79 runs in the first innings and 53 runs in the second.
Deplorable statistic
Those deplorable statistics has prompted captain Jason Holder to call out his batters and demand that they show some character in the second Test in Wellington in a few days.
"I think it's time we start delivering and stopped talking," Holder said. "We've talked a lot; we've promised a lot. I think it's a matter for us to all look ourselves in the mirror and understand that we've got to fight a little harder. We're just probably throwing the towel in too easily; just being honest. We've just got to turn it around, and only we can do it. We've had brilliant support from this management and staff, they've put everything in place. It's just for us to live up to it."
Holder congratulated Blackwood and Joseph for bringing some respectability towards the team's batting, but he is urging his players to work a lot harder heading into the second Test.
In the meantime, the West Indies will be without fast bowler Kemar Roach for the second Test, as he is expected to fly home following the passing of his father.
Wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, who left the field on day two of the Test match with a finger injury and did not bat in either inning, is also expected to miss out.
A decision will be made whether to draft in reserve wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva or Nicholas Pooran, who is in New Zealand with the West Indies 'A' team.
