We must keep grinding away, says Jason Holder

Jason Holder admits the West Indies are playing for pride as wants his young squad to head home in high spirits.

The Caribbean side were bowled out for 143 inside 35 overs overs against India which put an end to their semi-final hopes in this year’s Cricket World Cup.

Captain Jason Holder admits the tournament is still as important as the West Indies head to Chester-le-Street to contest their penultimate group stage match against Sri Lanka.

However, Holder, 27,
who remains the youngest player to play as a captain in a World Cup states: “We
still have lots to play for as we can move up the table and also play for
pride.

“We must take it one
game at a time and make sure we are consistent in all three departments.”

When asked about
consistency Holder highlighted the importance of sustaining basics. He stated:
“I think when you are in good positions you have got to understand why and what
you did to get yourself into good positions.

“Whatever that is you
just continue to do it over a longer period. If you talk to most successful
athletes, all of them will tell you, you have just got to do the small things
longer and be as disciplined as you possibly can over a period of time and that
is how you get success.

“Lots of people tend
to get complacent and change their method after getting some success.

“You just keep
grinding away, you do not just get to 50 and play a bag of shots.

“You continue with the
method you approached it with in order to get to 50 and you keep grinding it
out.”

However, fortune has it seems forgotten them. For instance, reducing Australia to 79-5 with the prolific Jamaican Sheldon Cottrell, the leading wicket-taker for the West Indies so far, it was disappointing only to see them lose by 15 runs.

Nevertheless, Holder
credits his teammates and their ability and hopes to use the games for them to
build their talent and confidence.

“Players such as Nicholas
Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer are versatile. I think he (Pooran) has got a bag of
talent and it is for him to unleash his talent on this stage.

“With more experience,
game after game he spends on that cricket field he will gain more knowledge and
the confidence to do well.

“It will only speak
well for West Indies cricket in the future.

“If he continues to
stay fit and healthy I cannot see anything stopping him from being and
outstanding player for the West Indies.

Similarly, with Oshane
Thomas Holder feels he has the raw talent to do well despite not having the
same formal cricketing background as the others.

“With him and Hetmyer, they just need to stay fit and healthy and I have no doubt they will continue to be bright sparks for the West Indies.”

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