ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – All-rounder Jason Holder has been sacked as captain of the Test and replaced by compatriot Kraigg Brathwaite for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka starting later this month, India announced West Cricket in late yesterday. The move comes as a result of Brathwaite’s outstanding leadership on the recent tour of Bangladesh when West Indies weakened the home team in a two-match series, to win their first Asian series in nearly a decade.
Holder, along with nine other first-choice players, opted out of the Test and a one-day series because of COVID-19 concerns.
“We all believe that Kraigg is the right man to lead our Test side at this time and I’m delighted that he has taken on the role,” said chief selector Roger Harper.
“In the recent Test series against Bangladesh, Kraigg managed to motivate his players to play to a very high level and created the culture we are looking to establish where the team showed a collective determination to fight and a true hunger for success. ”
Brathwaite has already led West Indies in seven of his 66 Tests and has previously served as lieutenant for Holder. Just last year ironically, all-rounder Roston Chase replaced Brathwaite as a lieutenant for the tour of New Zealand.
But with Chase also skipping the tour of Bangladesh, the selectors resorted to Brathwaite in a last-ditch move, only for the appointment to pay off.
“It’s a huge honor to captain the West Indies Test team,” said the 28-year-old Brathwaite.
“I feel extremely proud and humbled that the Board and Selectors have given me the opportunity and responsibility to lead the team.
“The recent Test Series victory in Bangladesh was a great achievement and I am really looking forward to the upcoming home series against Sri Lanka and I am excited about what I think this team can achieve in the future.”
Holder, one of the youngest ever Windies Test captains at the age of 23, led West Indies in 37 of his 45 Tests, winning 11, losing 21 and drawing five games.
And while he oversaw the return of the Wisden Trophy to the Caribbean in 2019 after nearly a decade, his position came under increasing scrutiny especially after a series defeat in England last year and a heavy loss to a series in New Zealand last December.
The incumbent’s captaincy also drew criticism from several prominent former players and found himself under even more pressure when he oversaw Barbados Pride’s dismal campaign at the Regional Super50 last month when the powerhouses won one game of six outings.
CWI’s director of cricket, Jimmy Adams, praised the Holder for leading the side of the Test with “dignity”, stressing that he was still key to the West Indies’ plans. “On behalf of CWI, I would like to thank Jason for everything he has put into the game in the region while serving as captain of our Test team,” said Adams.
“Throughout his five and a half year career, he has led with dignity while always upholding the sport’s highest values.
“As the world’s leading overall Test player, we all believe Jason has a tremendous role to play in West Indies Test Cricket for many years to come.”
A move as Test captain also comes two years after he was drawn as a one-day captain, following a nightmare West Indies run at the ICC World Cup in England when the Caribbean side won two of nine games to finish bottom of the top 10 – team tournament. The 29-year-old is one of the world’s leading Test hitters, averaging 32 at bat with three hundreds and grabbing 116 wickets at just under 28 each. West Indies face Sri Lanka in the opening Test at Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium starting March 21 and the squad is expected to be announced today.