West Indies star Jason Holder insists his Test career is far from over, despite making himself unavailable from the team’s upcoming Test tour of Australia.
The Windies, once a cricketing superpower but who haven’t won a Test down under in the 21st century, unveiled an inexperienced squad with which they will face the reigning World Test Champions in January, with Holder and fellow regular Kyle Mayers both choosing to feature in the International League T20 tournament in the UAE instead.
However, Holder will feature in February’s three-match T20I series against Australia, having reportedly been informed by Cricket West Indies that he would need to play to be considered for the team’s T20 World Cup squad, to be played in the Caribbean and America in mid-2024.
The 32-year old, who has 155 Test wickets at 28.8 and captained the team between 2015 and 2020, told ESPNCricinfo his decision to opt out of the Test tour is to ‘give myself the best chance of playing in that World Cup’, saying his days in the longest format are far from over.
“By no means is this me turning my back on Test cricket,” he said.
“It’s not curtains for me in Test cricket by any means. It’s my first time going through something like this and I felt that it was necessary to be as honest and as open with CWI as I possibly can.
“It was a very difficult decision: I just feel as though this is the right cricketing decision for me at this time.
“As much as I love Test cricket, I want to give myself the best chance of playing in that World Cup. I felt it was probably best to prioritise and focus on playing as much T20 cricket leading up to that as possible. I will probably sleep a little bit better knowing that I’ve given myself the best opportunity to do that.”
Holder’s unavailability comes after he was among a number of senior West Indies players, alongside Mayers and white-ball star Nicholas Pooran, to refuse a central contract from CWI for the 2023/24 season.
However, he is still keen to play for the Windies in an upcoming three-Test tour of England in July 2024, immediately after the T20 World Cup, as well as a later home series against South Africa.
(Photo by Sarah Reed – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
“I will do everything possible to make myself eligible for those Test series and have spoken to the coach and selectors to reiterate that,” he said.
CWI chief executive officer Johnny Grave has said Holder’s unavailability will give fresh faces a chance to become Test regulars moving forward, and confirmed the veteran will not be punished for his opt-out.
“We accept that players have to make choices and we hope that players understand that we also have to make choices,” Grave said.
“We’re not going to change the philosophy that we can’t guarantee any players selection for any international series. We’re certainly not moving on from Jason Holder, but him not being in Australia will create an opportunity for someone else to perform.
“We’re not going to deny NOCs [No Objection Certificates] or get into public spats with players… if they choose not to play for West Indies, we’re not going to try and punish them. We’ve moved on from those days.”
Holder endured a torrid tour of Australia during their visit down under for two Tests in the 2022/23 summer, finishing with 41 runs at 10.25 and taking just one wicket at 223.
West Indies Test squad to tour Australia
Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Alzarri Joseph (vc), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves, Joshua Da Silva, Akeem Jordan, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, Kevin Sinclair, Tevin Imlach, Shamar Joseph, Zachary McCaskie.
Blink
Roar Rookie
And it was the Indian opener Sehwag that told Warner his technique was a great fit for test cricket. I don't think Warner believed until then.
Blink
Roar Rookie
S Johnson is a left arm quick though with highly marketable looks. Starc apparently has a $24.5m house in Sydney. Johnson still couldn't afford the deposit. Starc is a gem of course. Pretty much all right handers like me hate facing such a bowler where a potential straight drive for four suddenly comes back as a yorker from hell. I don't know why you argue with Gamechanger EF. He rarely says anything sensible.
Blink
Roar Rookie
You're a bit out of your depth Gamechanger. Obviously a newcomer with a little knowledge but just loves those stats.
Blink
Roar Rookie
Besides that quicks prefer T20 if they're being honest. Big crowds, money and only 4 overs to bowl. Its only in Australia, England and to a lesser extent England where test cricket is revered.
Vamsi K
Roar Rookie
Would have been nice, but there is lot of history as well as continuing tensions, which make it more problematic than great. It's like having a combined Ukraine and Russian team in the current scenario.
Andrew
Roar Rookie
Can we get a combined India and Pakistan side. Come on, you know it makes sense.
Andrew
Roar Rookie
‘ the market has spoken’ is why mankind is doomed.
Andrew
Roar Rookie
"its just not cricket" will finally take on a new meaning as well.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
This situation is quite unfortunate Pete, but if you were lucky enough to be in this position, would your priority be your legacy or the cash? I cannot see an easy or viable alternative. Why should the ICC subsidise a country’s test team when they can't draw a decent crowd in their own country? I grew up when the Windies were the number 1 test nation in the world & there was a bit of a gap to number 2. I still think the strongest test team to ever tour Australia was the 1984/85 Windies team. Marshall, Garner, Holding & Walsh. Imagine opening the batting against that line-up? The test crowds in India vs Australia were pretty ordinary at times as well earlier this year. The luxury that India has is it has the 5th largest economy in the world, thus they can pay big dollars for players in all forms of the game. A very different circumstance to the Caribbean.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Maybe too old?? Definitely too old. Would Bruce Doull have stayed at Carlton for a $20K contract if the Swans had offered him $50K to captain a relocated team to Sydney in 1982?
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
The ICC rakes in billions every year and channels that out to the various Cricket Boards. I'd love to see them hold back more of that and set a minimum series of contracts for player, male & female, based on the various formats, eg Tests only USD$500,000, White ball only $200,000 for each format. If someone plays all formats, they fget $900,000 minimum. That means regardless whether you play for Australia or Zimbabwe, you're guaranteed a really good minimum wage, which can be topped up by each Board, assuming they have the funds. The bias towards Tests hopefully means more will stick to that format, but also recognizes white ball players can make serious money form franchises, which the ICC wouldn't have to pay. Probably a pipe dream but IMO it's the way to go.
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
Because Adelaide pulls in a better crowd. Adelaide is by far the best test venue in the world. Almost incomparable. It's Brisbane and Perth that struggle to get people.
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
Yeah, nice stuff. I think test cricket moving more towards composite teams instead of just nation v nation is a terrific idea.
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
That would be interfering in the domestic activities of the UAE and Indian boards though. All the ICC can do is lobby and appeal to the decency of ECB, CA and BCCI to spread the love a bit. The objective of the ICC is to promote and grow cricket everywhere. Not promote one form of cricket for a handful of nations.
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
I'm sorry, what other assumption could be made? You've been belittling Johnson for getting a good pay day despite apparently being unworthy of it because he never held a baggy green.
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
I'd support that. If you won't turn up and support the national team, but you'll support a poxy franchise, then stop putting the national team there.
Gamechanger
Roar Rookie
Well CA should consider shafting Perth from being a venue for Tests.
Gamechanger
Roar Rookie
“Maybe you can donate some of your evident riches ..”.What a ridiculous personal comment from someone who hasn’t a clue of my financial status. When one resorts to personal attacks you just minimise your points.
Dodgy brothers
Roar Rookie
I have no problem with players choosing when and where they play, it's inevitable. I do wish some more money could be shared with the 'minnows' to make test cricket more viable. It's hard to see West Indies keeping their test status.
Dodgy brothers
Roar Rookie
Why can't the Perth test be compared with Adelaide? If anything it's more comparable that Brisbane because it's a new stadium.