Former Captain Predicts Tight Tussle as Two Transitioning Teams Collide
Former West Indies captain Jason Holder believes England’s third white-ball tour of the Caribbean in as many years is a “massive boost to their survival as an international team,” while also repaying the ECB’s debt to the West Indies for their crucial role in salvaging English cricket’s finances during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Holder, 32, led the West Indies squad that played three Tests behind closed doors in Manchester and Southampton in the summer of 2020, enduring weeks of strict bio-secure protocols to help “keep the lights on,” as described by former ECB chief Tom Harrison. This tour mitigated the ECB’s losses, which could have exceeded £380 million had the entire summer schedule been canceled. Each of those three Tests was worth approximately £20 million, contributing to the board’s £1.1 million rights deal with Sky Sports.
“We’ve obviously had the English coming over for the last three years consecutively. And that has definitely boosted, not only our economy within the Caribbean, but it adds a massive boost to our survival in international cricket,” Holder told ESPNcricinfo.
The Caribbean has proven to be a challenging destination for England in recent years. The Test team hasn’t won a series there since 2004, while the white-ball squads have lost their last three series: 3-2 in the T20Is in both 2022 and 2023, and 2-1 in their most recent ODI campaign in December 2023.
A Transitional Phase for Both Sides
“I’m looking forward to the contest,” Holder said. “Both teams are in a transitionary phase, so it’s going to be keenly contested. England have obviously got a point to prove, and they’ll be trying a few different combinations to see what works. And likewise, with West Indies, we’ve got a lot of youngsters within our cohort, and it is important for them to just gain experience, gain confidence and gain knowledge.“
One such young talent is 17-year-old Jewel Andrew, who made his ODI debut for the West Indies against Sri Lanka last week. Holder is excited about Andrew’s potential, having faced him in the recent Caribbean Premier League.
“The first time I saw him was when I played against him, quite recently, in the CPL. He definitely stood up. He looks a very easy-going player. He’s got time, and any top-order batter who shows signs of having time is promising.”
While Holder himself will be a studio pundit for the upcoming tour, he remains hopeful of making a return to the West Indies setup in time for the ICC Champions Trophy in February 2025. He acknowledged the team’s disappointment at falling short in the recent T20 World Cup, but believes the young squad can still compete for global trophies in the coming years.
The Importance of the Winds
Holder also highlighted the importance of the Caribbean’s notoriously fickle winds in shaping the tactics and gameplay of the upcoming series, a factor that could play a crucial role in determining the outcome of what he predicts will be a closely contested affair.
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