Gaining the trust of his players and building a good relationship with them is one of the top priorities for newly appointed West Indies One-day International skipper Jason Holder who takes over the captaincy from Dwayne Bravo.
The 23-year-old Barbados all-rounder Holder was pleased to be appointed captain and is well aware he has huge task ahead of him in leading the West Indies team in the upcoming ODI series against South Africa.
“I am obviously very happy to be appointed in this post. It is something I have always been looking forward to from a youngster. Taking up the mantle from Dwayne Bravo is obviously big boots to fill…I will just try to move the team forward,” Holder told WICB Media yesterday.
“My biggest task at the moment is to build trust and build relationships with my players and try to get the best out of them in key situations and in games,” he added.
“It is a huge task. We are down the pecking order in terms of the rankings so it will be about getting the guys together a best as I possibly can and try to move up the rankings. It is about us starting well here (in South Africa) and taking that into the World Cup,” said Holder.
But the new skipper is not really looking as far the World Cup just yet.
“I just want to take it step by step. I think the key now is that we build some momentum,” Holder explained.
Being named ODI skipper also gives the young Bajan motivation to lift his game.
“I have been in and out of the side since I started playing international cricket. I have not done too badly, obviously I am eager to keep pressing forward and improving,” he said.
“I see this now as more motivation to do well and continue to make West Indies cricket proud and build a legacy for myself. Obviously being the captain is a huge step for me but I am quite willing to take it on and welcome it with open arms,” Holder added.
He also noted that getting the support from the of the West Indies support staff and the senior players in the side will be crucial in the early days of captaincy.
“The support is key at this present time being a young leader in this form. It has good support staff around the team in terms of the management team and obviously the senior players who I get along well with. It is just about me trying to gel everybody together and move in the right direction,” he explained.
“I look up to a lot of the senior players in the squad and I think I will be supported by the guys and it is all about moving West Indies cricket forward,” Holder added.
