Test of faith - Holder backing senior Windies players to deliver in final game against England

Windies captain Jason Holder was keeping his cards close to his chest with regard to the team selection ahead of the start of the third and final Test against England today.

But whoever gets chosen, Holder is keen on putting faith in his tried and trusted charges who have a chance to do what many before them have attempted and failed to do in decades: to win a series in England.

With the series locked at one game apiece, the encounter at Old Trafford is expected to be a humdinger, with both sides brimming with confidence.

Holder allayed fears that the team is battered and rattled after the second Test loss and said that they are eager and ready to go for the series finale.

“The spirit in the dressing room is still very high,” Holder said. “We have a really good opportunity here to win this series, and everybody is upbeat for the occasion, and we know what’s at stake.”

Both sides have selection conundrums, with England having the harder decision to make with a plethora of experienced quick bowlers at their disposal. The Windies pacers have had to endure an arduous last couple of weeks with a workload that has been second to none. One hundred and sixty-two overs among the quartet means that there must be some wear and tear, however, Holder is backing the senior players to come up trumps when it matters most to help them to win the Test match and the series.

“It’s a combination of things,” he said. “You need 20 wickets to win a Test match, but you also need a solid first innings to set the game up well. Once we get these two things happening, more or less the game goes in the direction you want it to.”

Starting well has not gone in favour of the visitors so far on tour, with the top order continuing to find the going tough in the English conditions. Despite the unproductivity, Holder is keen on keeping faith with John Campbell and Shai Hope, who are struggling to get runs in the series.

“All our players have got my backing,” he said. “They know how I personally feel. Yes, some of them haven’t been getting the runs that we would like, but more or less, it’s about us giving them full support.

“We all know what Shai can produce, and he’s done it at this level. He is one of the best one-day batsmen in the world, and we know the calibre player he can be. I’ve got full confidence in Shai to get some runs. He’s got starts so far in this series, and he’s not far from converting the start into something really special for us.”

The match bowls off from Old Trafford in Manchester, England, at 5 a.m. Jamaica time.