Despite 36-wicket haul, Chemar Holder coy about Windies call up

Written by Leighton Levy. Posted in Regional Cricket. | 31 March 2020 | 15230 Views
Tags: Cricket, Barbados Pride, Barbados\, Chemar Holder, West Indies Championships

With a 36-wicket haul in the just concluded West Indies Championships, few would argue that Barbados’ Chemar Holder is not too far away from a call to the West Indies senior team.

That he has already represented the West Indies ‘A’ and President’s XI sides, is a clear indicator that he has the eyes of Chief Selector Roger Harper and Cricket West Indies’ selection panel. However, he remains coy about his chances of breaking into the senior team.

“Based on how the season went for me, how the year went for me, I did well in the ‘A’ team also, I can’t say for sure if I am ready. I could only say the confidence is there and I am feeling good and I am bowling well, so once I get the opportunity I will see how it goes,” said the 22-year-old pacer whose 36 wickets came at an average of 18.91.

Notwithstanding his position on stepping up into the West Indies senior team, Holder believes he would have met his goals for this past season had it not been for CWI’s decision to cancel the remaining two rounds of competition while handing his team, the Barbados Pride, the title.

“I am quite happy with the number of wickets I took this season because at the beginning of the season I set myself a target which was 40 and to finish with 36 knowing that they had two games left, I believe I would have got my target or go over 40. Anything over 40 was a bonus for me,” said Holder, who had a return match against the Jamaica Scorpions against whom he took a match-winning 11 for 92 when the teams played at Sabina Park in January.

Holder, who has 76 first-class wickets to his name, credits improved control for his success this past season.

“I have improved in my line and length and also being consistent throughout my spells and finished strong in every spell I bowled this season,” he said.

The nature of the pitches across the region was also encouraging.

“Some of the wickets this season were pretty good,” he said. “I find that there was a lot more grass on them this season than last season. Some were still fairly slow but some were better than others, so I would say the pitches were good this season. The batters had a good pitch to bat on and the bowlers had a good pitch to bowl on so I wouldn’t say anybody’s mind would have been turned off the pitches this season.”