Cricket

West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder will miss the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh due to ongoing shoulder rehabilitation. The series, scheduled to begin on November 22 in Antigua, will see the return of offspinner Kevin Sinclair and right-arm quick Anderson Phillip to the Test squad.Sinclair, who missed the recent Test series against South Africa due to injury, has recovered and will bolster the West Indies' spin attack. Phillip, who last played a Test in December 2022, has impressed with his recent performances for Trinidad & Tobago in the domestic 50-over competition and Lancashire in the English county championship.Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who was rested for the South Africa series due to his heavy workload, has also returned to the Test fold. Joseph, who is currently playing in the T20I series against England, will be a key member of the West Indies' pace attack.Despite Joseph's return, Joshua Da Silva will retain his role as vice-captain, a position he assumed during Joseph's absence. Making way for the returnees are spinners Gudakesh Motie and Bryan Charles. Motie, who has been playing in the white-ball games against England, has been dropped from the Test side after unimpressive performances against South Africa. Charles, who was expected to make his Test debut in the South Africa series, has also been omitted.The West Indies will also play a two-day warm-up match against Bangladesh from November 17-18 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua. Kraigg Brathwaite will lead a CWI Select XI, which includes several promising young players, in the warm-up match.

Jason Holder, the former West Indies captain, has hailed England's third white-ball tour of the Caribbean in as many years as a "massive boost" to the survival of his team as an international force. Holder believes that the tour is a way for England to repay the debt they owe to the West Indies for helping to save the finances of English cricket during the Covid-19 pandemic.In 2020, the West Indies squad led by Holder played three Tests behind closed doors in Manchester and Southampton at the height of the Covid outbreak. This tour helped to mitigate the ECB's losses during the pandemic, which could have been upwards of £380 million had their entire summer schedule been cancelled.Holder believes that England have been fulfilling their side of the bargain by touring the Caribbean so frequently. "It's a fair way of putting it," Holder told ESPNcricinfo. "We've obviously had the English coming over for the last three years consecutively. And that has definitely boosted, not only our economy within the Caribbean, but it adds a massive boost to our survival in international cricket."Despite the financial disparities between the two boards, the Caribbean has been a particularly tough destination for England teams in recent years. The Test team hasn't won a series in the region since 2004, while the white-ball squads have lost each of the last three series: 3-2 in the T20Is in both 2022 and 2023, and 2-1 in their last ODI campaign in December last year.Holder is looking forward to the contest, which he believes will be keenly contested as both teams are in a transitionary phase. "England have obviously got a point to prove, and they'll be trying a few different combinations to see what works. And likewise, with West Indies, we've got a lot of youngsters within our cohort, and it is important for them to just gain experience, gain confidence and gain knowledge. I think these series will go a long way to developing our base at a rapid rate."One of the most exciting young players in the West Indies squad is 17-year-old Jewel Andrew, who made his ODI debut in their most recent match against Sri Lanka. Holder believes that Andrew has a bright future ahead of him. "He definitely stood up. He looks a very easy-going player. He's got time, and any top-order batter who shows signs of having time is promising."Holder himself hasn't been involved in West Indies' white-ball set-up since pulling out of their T20 World Cup plans through injury in June. He will instead be a studio pundit for TNT in the UK throughout the eight-match tour.Looking back on the T20 World Cup, in which England's Super Eights victory in St Lucia proved critical to West Indies' hopes of reaching the last four, Holder acknowledged it had been a missed opportunity for a strong squad to do something special in front of their home fans. But, with players such as Evin Lewis and Shimron Hetmyer set to face England in the coming campaign, he's confident there will be other chances for this team to compete for global trophies in the coming years.

Jason Holder's all-round brilliance propelled the West Indies to a respectable total of 282 on the opening day of the third Test at Edgbaston, despite England's early dominance.After winning the toss and opting to bat on a favorable surface, the West Indies made a promising start, reaching 76-0. However, a batting collapse reminiscent of their struggles in the previous two Tests saw them lose five wickets around the lunch break.Holder and Joshua Da Silva steadied the ship with a crucial sixth-wicket partnership of 109 runs, but the tail failed to contribute significantly. Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes were the pick of the English bowlers, claiming four and three wickets respectively.Holder's crucial 59 runs, including a 92-ball fifty, gave the West Indies a glimmer of hope in the series they trail 2-0. His innings was complemented by Da Silva's 49 and Brathwaite's 61.England's shaky start in response saw them lose both openers in consecutive deliveries. Zak Crawley fell for eight, edging a loose drive to Holder at second slip, while Ben Duckett played on to Alzarri Joseph on the very next ball. Nightwatchman Mark Wood also departed for a duck, edging Seales to Holder, leaving Ollie Pope and Joe Root to resume England's innings on Saturday.The West Indies' resurgence continued as Holder took two excellent slip catches, contributing to England's shaky start. They ended the day at 38-3, still 244 runs behind.

Jason Holder, the former West Indies captain, is eager to make a strong return to Test cricket after missing the thrilling victory over Australia in January. Holder, who opted out of a central contract to play in the ILT20, believes the experience of watching from afar has given him renewed motivation.Despite being underdogs, Holder is confident that West Indies can challenge England at Lord's. He points to their recent Test victory in Australia and their impressive performances in England in 2017 and 2020. Holder emphasizes the importance of learning and believing in their abilities.The current tour is a stark contrast to the 2020 visit, which was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Holder recalls the challenging experience of being confined to bio-secure environments. However, he is grateful for the opportunity to bring joy to the Caribbean people during a difficult time.Holder's preparations for his Test return included matches for Barbados and Worcestershire. He credits his time with Worcestershire for giving him a boost of energy. While acknowledging the impending retirement of James Anderson, Holder believes that West Indies must move on and focus on their own strengths.

West Indies have unveiled their 15-man squad for the upcoming three-Test series against England, scheduled to commence in July. The squad features the return of experienced all-rounder Jason Holder and promising fast bowler Jayden Seales, who missed the drawn series in Australia earlier this year.Holder, who opted to play in the ILT20 instead of the Australia tour, has earned a recall after showcasing his red-ball prowess for Barbados and Worcestershire. Despite being ruled out of the ongoing T20 World Cup due to an injury, he is expected to recover in time for the England series.Seales, who was sidelined for the Australia tour due to a shoulder injury, has impressed during his stint with Sussex in the County Championship. He is currently the joint-highest wicket-taker in Division Two and will provide a boost to the West Indies bowling attack.Apart from Holder and Seales, the squad boasts a formidable pace attack that includes Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, and Kemar Roach. Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who struggled in Australia, has been replaced by Mikyle Louis, the leading run-scorer in the West Indies Championship.Justin Greaves and Akeem Jordan have also been dropped from the squad, while 19-year-old fast bowler Isai Thorne will travel to the UK as a development player. The touring party will arrive in England on June 23 for a training camp before the three-day warm-up match against a County Select XI on July 3.Desmond Haynes, West Indies' lead selector, expressed confidence in the squad's balance and experience. He highlighted the team's progress in red-ball cricket and their determination to perform well in English conditions.West Indies have not won a Test series in England since 1988, but they will be aiming to replicate their success from the previous series between the two teams in early 2022. The first Test will begin on July 10 at Lord's, marking James Anderson's farewell as an England player.

The West Indies cricket team has suffered a setback ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup, with star all-rounder Jason Holder ruled out due to an injury sustained while playing in the County Championship. The Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced the news on May 26, stating that Holder will require a recovery period and will not be available for the tournament.Holder's absence is a significant blow to the West Indies, as he is a key player in both their batting and bowling lineups. He has been a consistent performer for the team in recent years, and his experience and leadership will be missed.In Holder's place, the CWI has named Obed McCoy as his replacement. McCoy is a left-arm fast bowler who has impressed in recent matches for the West Indies. He has taken 10 wickets in his last five T20 internationals, and his ability to swing the ball both ways makes him a valuable asset to the team.In addition to McCoy, the CWI has also named five reserve players for the tournament: Kyle Mayers, Fabian Allen, Matthew Forde, Andre Fletcher, and Hayden Walsh. These players will be on standby in case of any further injuries or unforeseen circumstances.The T20 World Cup will be co-hosted by the Caribbean nations and the USA from June 2. The West Indies will be looking to make a strong impression on home soil, and they will be hoping that McCoy can step up and fill the void left by Holder's absence.

Kent's hopes of salvaging a positive result against Worcestershire dwindled on day two of their Vitality County Championship clash at Canterbury, as the visitors piled on a mammoth first-innings total of 618 for 7 declared.Jason Holder and Matthew Waite were the architects of Worcestershire's dominance, both registering unbeaten centuries. Holder's 123 came off 184 deliveries, while Waite's 100 was compiled from 157 balls. Adam Hose also contributed a valuable 90.Kent's bowlers toiled tirelessly but were unable to make significant inroads. Joey Evison claimed three wickets, while Matt Parkinson bowled a marathon 44.5 overs for three wickets at the cost of 201 runs.In reply, Kent's batting lineup struggled to cope with the pressure. Joe Leach struck early, dismissing Ben Compton and Zak Crawley cheaply. Daniel Bell-Drummond and Jack Leaning offered some resistance with a 97-run partnership, but Kent still trailed by a daunting 506 runs at stumps, with Bell-Drummond unbeaten on 54 and Leaning on 43.Worcestershire's declaration came after a relentless afternoon session in which Holder and Waite plundered runs at will. Holder reached his century with a single off Leaning, while Waite brought up his ton with a six over mid-on.Kent's bowlers were left frustrated by the lack of assistance from the pitch, which offered little help to the seamers or spinners. The hosts will need to produce a remarkable batting performance on day three to avoid a heavy defeat.

Worcestershire's hopes of a strong start to their Vitality County Championship campaign were dashed by a devastating spell from West Indies allrounder Jason Holder, who reduced the hosts to 181 for 6 on day one at Kidderminster.Holder, available for the first five Championship matches, showcased his exceptional bowling skills, dismissing Andy Umeed, James Rew, and Lewis Gregory in quick succession before tea. However, Somerset's Tom Banton emerged as a beacon of resilience, producing a scintillating 92 from 140 balls to hold the innings together.Banton's knock, coupled with late-order hitting from Migael Pretorius, enabled Somerset to recover and claim two batting points before declaring late in the day. Worcestershire's Jake Libby and night-watchman Adam Finch safely negotiated five overs to end the day.Worcestershire rested leading wicket-taker Nathan Smith and handed a first start of the season to left-armer Ben Gibbon. Kashif Ali returned after recovering from a back problem, while Somerset rested Craig Overton and welcomed back Kasey Aldridge and Andrew Umeed.Worcestershire captain Brett D'Oliveira's decision to put Somerset into bat on a wicket with more grass than last week's game against Durham initially paid dividends. Joe Leach impressed in the first over, but a dropped catch by Adam Hose allowed Sean Dickson to survive. However, Dickson was soon dismissed lbw by Matthew Waite.Matt Renshaw initially struggled against Waite but gradually opened up, only to be caught by Hose off Gibbon. Leach returned after lunch to dismiss Tom Lammonby, and Holder struck just before tea to remove Umeed, Rew, and Gregory in quick succession.After tea, Waite claimed the wicket of Aldridge, but Banton continued to play with aggression and freedom, reaching a 91-ball half-century. Pretorius adopted an ultra-aggressive approach, racing to 49 off 34 balls before being caught by Holder off Leach.Banton looked set for a century but was run out for 92 by D'Oliveira's direct hit. Somerset declared their innings on 309 for 9, leaving Worcestershire trailing by 295 runs.

Worcestershire's hopes of a strong start to their Vitality County Championship campaign were dashed by a spirited Durham response on day one at Kidderminster. Despite Jason Holder's impressive bowling spell, Durham rallied behind Ollie Robinson's aggressive half-century to post a competitive 244.After Worcestershire's early strikes, Durham's middle order crumbled under Holder's pressure. However, Robinson's counterattacking innings, featuring three sixes and five fours, propelled Durham to a respectable total. Ben Raine and Matthew Potts provided valuable support, while Worcestershire's bowlers struggled to contain Robinson's onslaught.In reply, Worcestershire faced an early setback as Raine and Potts struck with the new ball. Jake Libby's unbeaten 35 offered some resistance, but the hosts were left trailing by 166 runs at the close of play.