No need to remove Jason Holder as Windies captain

By February 21, 2021

 No need to discard Jason Holder as Test captain.

    How do we evaluate a captain? Do we use their win-loss record? Do we judge their on-field performances? West Indies Test captain Jason Holder should continue as the team’s leader despite calls for Kraigg Brathwaite to replace him at the helm.

The calls have come after Brathwaite led the squad to victory over Bangladesh in a two-Test series two weeks ago while Holder opted not to tour due to health and safety concerns.

 Changing captains is not the answer to the West Indies’ problems and if the selectors were to do so it would be a very rash and irresponsible decision. It would also amount to a knee-jerk reaction.

When Holder was selected to be Test captain in 2015, it was purported as a “long-term” appointment. By replacing Holder with Brathwaite after success in one Test series, the selectors run the risk of undermining Holder’s confidence by bringing into question his ability to lead. Nothing good would come from that.

 It would be inaccurate and quite unfair to say Holder has had no success as captain as he did win the Wisden Trophy in 2019.

The 29-year-old Holder has grown as a cricketer and is one of the world’s leading Test cricketers, ranked third on the all-rounder’s chart, 11th in bowling and 43rd in the batting rankings.

He has a lot to offer to the team and each player can learn from his exploits in different formats and levels of the game.

It is also key to note that just recently, Kraigg Brathwaite was stripped of the vice-captaincy and told to focus on improving his game.

The Windies will be confident going into their series against Sri Lanka. So instead of causing unnecessary division within the team by changing captains, each player should be encouraged to learn from the other and cooperation should be encouraged.

Both Holder and Brathwaite can work alongside each other. Holder could learn a thing or two from Brathwaite and vice versa.

 So instead of focusing on who should be captain, the focus should be on building around the core and planning for the future.

 

 The NBA All-Star Game should be cancelled.

 

The 2021 All-Star Game was initially cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic but the NBA has reversed the decision and decided to hold a one-night event in Atlanta on March 7, despite public objection from players.

Despite players like LA Lakers star LeBron James coming out and voicing his displeasure with the league’s decision saying that he will be there physically but not mentally, the NBA’s persistence in continuing with the All-Star Game, gives the impression that player safety and concerns are being overlooked in the name of profit.

The All-Star Weekend provides fans with the ability to interact tradition with their favourite players. However, the fact that Covid-19 has prevented fans from being at the games undermines the need this season.

We live in unprecedented times and the safety and health of the players should be of paramount importance, and it is not unreasonable to believe that the All-Star Game could trigger virus clusters that put even more players at risk.

 

Is all this worth risking the rest of the NBA season?

 Novak Djokovic is unstoppable!  Novak Djokovic extended his dominance at the Australian Open beating Daniil Medvedev 7-5 6-2 6-2 to secure his18th Grand Slam title.

The 33-year-old Djokovic dispensed of his opponent in an hour and 53 minutes to claim his ninth Australian Open title and move with two of the number of titles won by both Roger Federer’s and Rafael Nadal.

Not even an abdominal injury suffered earlier in the tournament could prevent the Joker from continuing his relentless march to catch up with his two contemporaries.

Congratulations!

Leighton Levy

Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.

Related items

  • Holder, Roach return to strengthen Barbados Pride ahead of Harpy Eagles clash Holder, Roach return to strengthen Barbados Pride ahead of Harpy Eagles clash

    West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder and seamer Kemar Roach will bolster Barbados Pride for the upcoming rounds of the West Indies Championship, as both have been included in the squad for the fourth-round clash with Guyana Harpy Eagles at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua, scheduled for Wednesday.

    For Holder, he former West Indies Test and One-Day captain, it would be his first regional first-class match in four years. The 32-year-old, who is also a former Barbados captain, will be joined by fellow international stars Roach and Raymon Reifer in the Vasbert Drakes-coached 12-man squad led by current Test skipper Kraigg Brathwaite.

    Holder’s red-ball career has come under the spotlight in recent times, after he turned down a central retainer from Cricket West Indies, and also opted out of the two-Test tour of Australia, to focus on franchise Twenty20 cricket.

    However, he did declare that he had intentions of quitting the longest format, and, as such, should be included in this summer's visit to England for the three-Test series.

    Holder’s last regional first class game was against Harpy Eagles at Providence during the 2020 season which was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Roach, too, will be turning out in his first regional first-class game in four years, having also last featured in the 2020 season.

    The 35-year-old is the fifth highest wicket-taker in Tests for West Indies with 270 scalps and has also taken 523 first class wickets from 162 matches.

    Holder and Roach will certainly add impetus to the Pride's bowling attack which comprises Chemar Holder, Jair McAllister and Shaquille Cumberbatch.

    Barbados are currently third in the championship standings on 43.8 points, almost two points behind second-placed Leeward Islands Hurricanes (45.6), with unbeaten Windward Islands Volcanoes top with 62.2 points.

    SQUAD – Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Shaquille Cumberbatch, Shane Dowrich, Chaim Holder, Chemar Holder, Jason Holder, Jair McAllister, Zachary McCaskie, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican, Jonathan Drakes, Shian Brathwaite

  • Nadal can add to sport's 'only' untouchable record at Roland Garros, says former major champ Nadal can add to sport's 'only' untouchable record at Roland Garros, says former major champ

    Rafael Nadal's French Open haul is the only record in sport that will never be broken, according to Richard Krajicek.

    And the former Wimbledon champion believes Nadal could yet add a 15th Roland Garros title in what is set to be his final year on the circuit.

    Indeed, Krajicek believes Nadal's great rival Novak Djokovic would even be hoping to see the Spaniard succeed again in Paris.

    While Djokovic's 24 singles grand slam triumphs edge out Nadal's 22, his performances at the clay-court major are unmatched.

    Nadal has 14 French Open titles, losing only three times in 115 matches at the event.

    Although he did not compete last year, as Djokovic earned his third Roland Garros championship, a winning return in 2024 would provide a fitting conclusion to a legendary career.

    "It would be great for Nadal to go for the clay and win one more French Open," Krajicek told Stats Perform.

    "I think every record in sports or in tennis can and will probably be broken. I'm pretty sure the only one that will never be broken is the 14 French Open titles from Rafael Nadal. I don't see how somebody can win 14 titles."

    Of the possibility of one last win for Nadal, Krajicek added: "It would be just incredible.

    "I think everybody in tennis, probably including his competition, Djokovic or [Carlos] Alcaraz, would love for Rafa to win one more French Open."

    That is a realistic aim, according to Krajicek, although he does not see Nadal competing for the top prize at either Wimbledon or the US Open.

    "For me, [the French Open] is the only one. If he wins any grand slam, it's that one," the 1996 All England Club winner said. "I don't think he'll ever win Wimbledon again, also not the US Open.

    "I don't know how good his body is, but the feeling and how much he played or how little he played... I think, for me, only the French Open. Roland Garros is the only one he can win."

    Asked for his reflections on Nadal's legacy, Krajicek replied: "I think his legacy will be of a great champion, number two in grand slams, so one of the greatest ever, unbelievable.

    "A great person, humble person, and probably the biggest fighter we've ever seen in any sports arena, in any sport. Just an incredibly mentally strong athlete."

  • Djokovic can win six more grand slams before end of 2025 – Krajicek Djokovic can win six more grand slams before end of 2025 – Krajicek

    Novak Djokovic still remains the favourite to win any tournament he enters and is capable of winning six more grand slams before the end of next year.

    That is according to former Wimbledon winner Richard Krajicek, who told Stats Perform he considers Djokovic the sport's all-time greatest.

    Djokovic won three majors last year and reached the final of a fourth, but he was knocked out of the 2024 Australian Open at the semi-final stage.

    Jannik Sinner defeated the 10-time Melbourne champion in four sets before beating Daniil Medvedev in the final, seeming to usher in a new era for tennis.

    However, Krajicek insists Djokovic is far from done as he continues to pick and choose which tournaments he enters. 

    "Five or six years ago, I was wondering how long he's going to maintain his level, but he's still doing it," Krajicek told Stats Perform.

    "He played very few tournaments last year and still managed to be number one. 

    "I doubt that he's going to stay number one for long if he only plays 11 or 12 events because then you basically have to win every event.

    "But for me, he's still going to win one to three grand slams a year, for the next two years at least."

    Wimbledon was the only major at which Djokovic fell short last year as his streak of four straight titles at SW19 came to an end against Carlos Alcaraz.

    Krajicek, who won the tournament in 1996, believes the 36-year-old remains the man to beat in this year's competition.

    "For sure, at Wimbledon," Krajicek said when asked if Djokovic is the favourite. "The French Open and the US Open has more competition. 

    "It's difficult as there are more strong, fit players like Medvedev, Sinner and Alcaraz. 

    "That will be very difficult to win the US Open, but for me, he is still the favourite to win Wimbledon."

    Djokovic won his 24th grand slam singles title when triumphing at the US Open last September with victory over Medvedev in the final.

    The world number one is two in front of Rafael Nadal for the most majors won by a male in the Open Era, while the retired Roger Federer finished on 20.

    On that basis, Djokovic is the greatest of all time in the view of Krajicek, who also cites his longevity.

    "For me, he's the best player that ever played the game," the Dutchman said. "He has won every grand slam at least three times. 

    "He's won 24 grand slams, and he's also won four grand slams in a row previously. Those are just incredible stats. 

    "He's been number one for over 400 weeks, and I think Federer is the next one with about 310 weeks. 

    "So, for me, Federer and Nadal are unbelievable players, but Djokovic is just a little level higher."

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.