150 wickets, 2,500 runs but Holder still hungry
Published:Thursday | March 2, 2023 | 1:14 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
BARBADOS AND West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder has joined rare company but still feels he has much more to give to cricket in the region.
Holder, yesterday, joined countryman and West Indies great Sir Garfield Sobers as players from the region to have bagged 150 Test wickets and scored 2,500 runs in the longest format of the game.
Holder achieved the feat during the second day of play in the ongoing first Test against South Africa when he trapped batsman Keegan Peterson leg-before-wicket for seven.
Holder, the number-seven-ranked Test all-rounder, who, back in 2019 was the number-one ranked player, said despite being a little inconsistent over the last few years, he still has a lot to offer.
“I’m still hungry for success. Yes, things have been a little inconsistent for me over the last couple years, but I’m really enjoying the game, and I think my body is still going well,” Holder stated.
The 31-year-old former captain of the Caribbean team has career-best match figures of 11/103 against Bangladesh back in 2018 and a top score of 202 not out against England back in 2019.
According to Holder, seeing the hunger and passion of players like Kraigg Brathwaite, Shannon Gabriel, and Kemar Roach inspires him to keep pushing.
“I was captain at quite a young age, and I had a fairly good run at it, especially in the Test arena. I thoroughly enjoy this group, particularly. Just less egos and these guys play for the right reasons, and everybody is hungry for each other’s success. When you have guys like Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel, and Kraigg Brathwaite, who’ve been around for quite a bit and still leading the charge, it’s inspiring for someone like me,” he shared.
Holder, who made his Test debut in 2014, averages 29.13 with the ball and 28.86 with the bat. He shared that his success ties into the close bond he has with the current group, and seeing them achieve is just as important for him.
“It’s just phenomenal! It’s really good to see these guys succeeding, and that’s the most pleasing thing for me. Just being on the field, developing and learning with them and trying to win more series.”