West Indies captain Jason Holder reprimanded for bad language

By Adam Ellis

The ICC continue to crackdown on obscene language within Test cricket with West Indies captain Jason Holder handed one demerit point for airing his frustrations over the dropped catch of Dawid Malan in the Headingley Test.

On a day that saw the prospects of his side drawing the series level falter to a Malan half century and 84 from Moeen Ali, Holder let out an outburst as West Indies put down numerous catches throughout the day.

Malan was on 32 when he edged Holder straight towards the throat of Kieron Powell at first slip, but a diving Shane Dowrich crossed Powell’s eyeline to cause enough hesitation to upset a clean catch and put the ball down.

Holder was found to have breached Article 2.1.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during an International Match”.

In addition to this, Holder now has one demerit point on his record, if he receives three more within the next two years he will face a ban by the ICC.

The reprimand will sour the mood in the West Indies camp upbeat after the strong showing with the bat by Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope, who both scored centuries in the first innings to put the tourists in control.

A number of figures from the game voiced their sympathy for the West Indies captain after his team failed to show the same vigour in the field as they had done with the bat.