Holding his head high: Holder upbeat in the face of defeat

West Indies skipper says morale is up despite massive innings defeat against Australia

HOBART:

West Indies skipper Jason Holder insisted his side’s massive innings defeat to Australia in the first Test on Saturday was not a step backwards.

It was Groundhog Day again for the Caribbean tourists, who capitulated to an innings and 212-run loss well inside three days in Hobart after being sent back in and bowled out for 148 off just 36.3 overs in the second innings.

The West Indies have won just four of their last 21 Tests and are ranked above only Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. They last won a Test in Australia in 1997.

But Holder put on a brave face against the continuing Windies underachievement. “I wouldn’t say it’s a step backwards, obviously in the past we’ve shown that we can compete,” Holder told reporters. “We had a really good series against England where we competed really well and then the Australians came in after that and we fell back a little bit.”



The fast-bowler also said morale is still high within the side. “The spirit in the dressing room is still there, we had a few one-day series and then we had first-class cricket back home where players did well,” he said. “So it’s just a case where we need to put together a collective effort for longer periods in the game.”

Holder, who leads the side at the young age of 24, refused to buy into the problems with cricket administration in the Caribbean after decades of underperforming Windies sides.

“I’m sure many cricket pundits and people around the world have many opinions, but my job is just to focus on the cricket,” he said diplomatically. “I can’t really focus on anything else at this point in time, we’ve brought a squad down here to play cricket and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

Australia captain Steve Smith also said there was talent in the young Windies team which needed time.



“I think they’ve got some very capable players. We saw that with the way Darren Bravo played (108) and Kraigg Brathwaite (94) today,” said Smith. “They’ve certainly got some talented players that we have to be wary about.”

Shaun Marsh, Khawaja battle for Test spot

Australia have a pleasant selection headache ahead of the next Test against the West Indies with a decision on who to play between in-form Shaun Marsh and returning Usman Khawaja.

Marsh posted his highest Test score of 182 in a record fourth-wicket game-changing partnership of 449 runs with Adam Voges.

This followed his crucial second innings knock of 49 to help Australia beat New Zealand in the first-ever day-night Test in Adelaide late last month.



Marsh came in as an injury replacement for Khawaja, who scored centuries in the first two Tests against the Kiwis before suffering a hamstring problem which forced him out of the last two Tests.

Khawaja was named in a 13-man squad for the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which offers selectors a vexed decision between the pair.

“I’m sure his [Marsh’s] form gives selectors a few headaches. I think that’s a great thing,” said Smith. “I thought Shaun played beautifully throughout this Test match.”

Smith restated that he believes Marsh’s best batting position is at number five, while Khawaja batted at three when he scored 174 in Brisbane and 121 in Perth against the Black Caps.

Khawaja will have to first prove his fitness after recovering from his hamstring issues and is likely to test it out in the Big Bash League T20 series for Sydney Thunder over the next week. 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2015.

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