‘We’ve got to hold our nerve and deliver’

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

SEASONED ALL-ROUNDER Jason Holder has underscored the need for clinical execution if West Indies are to make an impact in the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup.

The former West Indies Test and One-Day captain said while the Caribbean hosts had “really good chances” of winning the June 1-29 showpiece, it was critical they “delivered on the day”, in spite of the composition of the squad.

“I think like anybody else in the competition, I think we’ve got really good chances,” the 32-year-old said.

“We’ll probably know the conditions better than anybody else. T20 cricket is one of those formats where it doesn’t matter the names on paper, it’s all about what you deliver on the day.

“And it’s really important for us to start the competition well and set a really good precedent going throughout the entire competition.”

He continued: “We’ve got a team that has got a lot of depth. I think it is very, very important to have depth.

“We’ve got mostly two-dimensional cricketers – some three – and it’s a matter for us just to come and just deliver.

“We’ve got to hold our nerve, deliver, and enjoy doing what we’re doing. I think we wouldn’t be a West Indies team if we didn’t enjoy what we’re doing, and play the cricket we know how to play.”

Holder, a veteran of 64 Tests and 138 One-Dayers, has reinvented himself as a key member of the West Indies T20 side in recent times, grabbing 53 wickets at an average of 26 from 46 matches over the last three years.

Last year, he managed 12 wickets from 11 matches as West Indies won series against South Africa, India and England.

And Holder said the team’s form served as a crucial part of their preparation, especially in building confidence.

“I think our prep coming into the World Cup when it comes to a match-play perspective has been really good,” he said.

“We’ve won the last three out of four series and more than likely we’ll be going into this World Cup with [ourselves] in good spirits.”

He added: “There’s lots of cricket going on, plenty of T20 cricket leading up to the World Cup which a lot of boys will be involved in.

“For those not involved, there’s first-class cricket going on here in the Caribbean and then I’m sure they’ll have a few camps before the start of the big tournament.

“So I think preparations-wise, I think we’ll be in good stead heading into this competition.”

West Indies, two-time former T20 World Cup champions, have been installed in Group C alongside New Zealand, Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea and Uganda.