We need to improve in all disciplines: Jason Holder

West Indies’ skipper Jason Holder has urged his team to raise their game and sought consistency ahead of the second Test which begins in Jamaica on Saturday. The Indians beat the hosts by an inning and 92 runs in the first game at Antigua.

“Well we need to be better than we were in the last game. Our bowling wasn’t good enough. And we obviously didn’t bat well enough. You need to bat well and you need to bowl well and in the field, when the chances come, you need to take it.

”One of the things we really stressed on was the consistency. We need to build pressure for long periods, bowl well in partnerships and patches. But we didn’t sustain that long enough in that game. That’s some of the key areas we need to pay attention.”

“We failed in both bowling and batting. In cricket you have to execute. You know in hindsight you can say a lot of things but then it boils down to execution. Bowlers have to come, have to be consistent for longer periods and batsmen just have knock it down, occupy the crease and score. That’s the bottom line of it.”

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The pitch at the Sabina Park is expected to be different. There has been a lot of talk that the green tinge on the pitch was left untouched a day before the start of the match. And, with the Windies bringing in young pacer Alzarri Joseph into the squad, it seems that the pitch is expected to suit fast bowlers. However, Holder has not confirmed anything.

“We will take the final decision tomorrow morning, see how the pitch looks. Yesterday it looked a bit green and this morning there was a lot of moisture”

“In the last game we played here against Australia, there was not this amount of grass on the pitch. Previously, there has been grass but the pitch still ends up being on the slower side. To be fair, as I said, probably it’s difficult really to predict how the pitch will play here in Jamaica. Going into this game tomorrow morning, I just need to take a final decision.”

Holder also gave his views about the 19-year-old pacer Alzarri Joseph.

To be fair, I have never played against Alzarri, never seen him play cricket live. But I have seen him play cricket on TV. And there is obviously a lot of talk going behind him. He has talent, he has the ability, he has pace. I support him fully.

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“We just need to get behind him if he is making his debut tomorrow. If he plays in the near future, we just need to give him support. Support is all we can give. At this time, it’s important for him to back his skills and know what got him here. He got here by hard work, he got here by performances. He will just continue doing what he has been doing before and if given the opportunity, I wish him all the best.”

Holder also said that inexperience of the side isn’t a problem. He says everyone is motivated and looking forward to make his mark.

“It’s not difficult to motivate this team. This is a young team and they are looking to make their mark. Everybody’s always looking forward to playing Test cricket. As a youngster, you come to see the likes of Sir Garfield Sobers, Malcolm Marshall and Joel Garner, and the lot aspires to be like them.

As I said its a very young group and everybody is eager to make a mark on the international circuit so it’s not difficult to motivate them,” Holder said.