Former West Indies Captain Barbados-born Jason Holder is
universally regarded as one of international cricket’s very
best allrounders. A reputation duly confirmed by his current
standing at the very top of the ICC’s official rankings of Test
cricket’s all-rounders. Holder’s outstanding skills in both batting an
bowling that have resulted in his current status, were developed from
his simple desire at a very early age to be always fully involved in every
game of cricket he played.
Playing pickup cricket as on the kid on the roads of his native
Barbados, Holder wanted to do everything, bat, bowl and
wicket-keep, He absolutely hated having to stand idly in the
field at any time waiting for something to happen. Instead he
much preferred to be far more actively involved as the
player who would make things happen.
From this childhood days Holder’s cricket career has
subsequently developed to his current status as West
Indies cricket’s only multi-format player, representing
the Caribbean regional team as he does in all three
formats.Being a leading all-rounder in international
cricket has, however, been stressful at times for Holder.
Playing for West Indies he’s far often found himself
having to be on the field during each and every day of a five day
Test match, which has been very taxing on both his mind and
body.
Holder’s method of effectively handling such stress has been to use
his available downtime, by removing himself completely for any
association with cricket. Opting instead to play some golf and pursue
other non-cricket-related interests and activities.
Out of the necessities of sheer self-preservation he has taught himself
how to effectively alterante between being completely tuned in or
totally shut off as warranted by the occasion. When actively playing he
is the fomer and the latter when not!
Regarded as one of the white ball, limited overs cricket most effective
death bowlers, Holder welcomes the pressure that’s invariably
associated with having to successfully finish an opponent’s innings.
Being ultimately responsible for deciding the outcome of a match
with his bowling has never daunted Holder who readily welcomes the
challenge.
In doing so, however, he also also fully appreciates that there will be
times when he fails to deliver and that matches will be and have been
lost as a result of his shortcomings, Holder simply views experienced
failure as an opportunity to learn from his errors and to become
WI WICKETS Page: 6
even better as a result of such experiences. The opportunity to be remembered for successfully delivering the goods at crunch time on an
the international stage is far more exciting than any fear of failure.
Having initially sacrificed his interest in and further development of his T20 career in deference to the desired longevity for his involvement
in Test cricket, Holder is now happily exploring opportunities in the former. His removal as West Indies Test and ODI Captain has allowed him
more freedom to now pursue available global franchise opportunities as a much-desired all-rounder.
Jason Holder’s Insights!
