Give him a chance - Former Windies opener Philo Wallace wants Test opportunity for Chemar Holder

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Former Test opener Philo Wallace has urged Windies tour selectors to hand Chemar Holder his debut in the first Test against England next month, contending that the uncapped speedster can shock England and lay the foundation for a series win.

The 49-year-old, who played seven Tests and 33 One-Day Internationals, said Holder should be made part of a four-pronged pace attack, including captain Jason Holder, Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph, pointing out he was “sharp and ready”.

“I think the exciting thing about this squad is, we have fast bowlers,” Wallace said. “We have fast bowlers – I’m not putting anything else – and to hear the bowling coach (Roddy Estwick) when he speaks about the excitement of these fast bowlers is wonderful.

“My excitement is going to be Chemar Holder, and I hope they don’t keep him in cotton wool. I hope that he starts, because he and Alzarri Joseph are the future of our bowling and we need to get them in as quickly as possible.

“They won an Under-19 World Cup together [in 2016] – Chemar went up as a replacement and everybody wanted to know why he wasn’t there from the beginning. He went up in the end and showed his class.

“He’s been an investment in Barbados and West Indies cricket, and I think the time is right now to showcase him. He’s sharp and he’s ready, and I think someone like him would shock the Englishmen.

“I know Shannon (Gabriel) is in the reserves and I think that he would be the 15th man.”

Chemar Holder proved outstanding in the recent first-class championship, taking 36 wickets at just under 19 runs apiece for champions Barbados Pride, to become the leading fast bowler in the tournament.

PACE AND AGGRESSION

The 22-year-old bowled with pace and aggression, in tandem with Test seamer Kemar Roach, and his performances saw him force his way into the 14-man squad for the three-Test series which bowls off in Southampton on July 8.

Wallace said with the four pacers, he would also include off-spinning all-rounders Roston Chase and Rahkeem Cornwall in the final 11 for the opening Test – a move designed to also boost the Windies’ batting.

The Windies are wrapping up quarantine at Old Trafford after arriving in England two weeks ago for cricket’s first-ever biosecure series during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After quarantine, they will continue to train in isolation, away from the public for another two weeks, ahead of the first Test. All three Tests are being played behind closed doors to mitigate against the spread of the virus.