Cricket: No pressure as skipper despite loss, says Holder

Abu Dhabi - Jason points out the decade-long West Indies struggle to defend his win-less streak

West Indies lost the second Test match and thereby the series against Pakistan at the Shaikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Despite a 2-0 drubbing, skipper Jason Holder feels 'no pressure'. He is yet to celebrate a Test win after leading his side 11 times. He has seen his team slip to eight defeats and got three draws.
"I don't feel any pressure as a captain. It's a young and inexperienced squad. It will take time to get the result we are looking for. We have been inconsistent for the last so many years so I don't feel any pressure. I'm here to do a job and I'm trying to do it in the best possible way," said the second youngest Test captain for West Indies.
He pointed out the decade-long West Indies struggle to defend his win-less streak.
"We understand the position we are in but it's almost a decade since we have been struggling. We are trying to get things right. It will take time to nourish and develop them. We have to give them that opportunity to do so," the Barbadian said at the Press conference.
The all-rounder was handed captaincy in September last year. His predecessor Denesh Ramdin, by the way, had won four and lost seven out of his 13 Tests. Darren Sammy had recorded eight wins and 12 losses from 30 Tests between 2010 to 2014.
Holder, though, remains hopeful. "We have shown signs of improvement in the last couple of months. In Dubai we were in a position from where we could have won. It's just a matter of being consistent. Young players are trying to make a mark. Devendra Bishoo took eight wickets in the last match. There are signs of individual brilliance. It is just a matter of putting things together," he said.
On the way forward. "All of us have to put their hands together and see how to move forward and look for consistency. We have not capitalised after getting starts like big teams do and that is due to the lack of experience. Also if you give chances to good players they make you pay. We put down few chances and that have hurt us in this Test match," he said about the dropped catches and lack of discipline in the team.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com