Jason Holder and the resurgence of Test Cricket in West Indies

Cricket has returned into the new normal world and the lovers of the sport couldn't expect a better return. A day 5 thriller between two well-matched teams, England and West Indies. England were the favorites to win the game because why not. Post the early 90s, West Indies lost their status as Test Giants. Barring Walsh and Ambrose, Lara and Chanderpaul and a few performers here and there, West Indies never had a team that could click together. In times where India became the best team from an average side, Australia lost its legendary status and started to fight back and even Bangladesh became a balanced squad, West Indies kept deteriorating. There are two primary reasons for that. One, they never had a set of players who could turn matches individually, and second, the few players they had, always had pay disputes with the board and preferred playing the glamourous T20 leagues around the globe. 

The board didn't treat the players well and the results are in front of us. But, after watching West Indies play in the past few series (Tests and ODI), it seems they are getting back on track. Known for their fast bowling in the 20th century, they today have a number of bowlers who are performing well whenever tested. They have a certain Kraigg Braithwaite who's been facing the new ball for the team for quite some time but has never been respected globally (His stats aren't great but he's decent batsman), and a Shai Hope, who's definitely going to lead West Indian batting for some time. 

They have a good set of players who are going well as a team, but a stable unit needs a good core and in this West Indian team, Jason Holder is the core (going a little scientific, he's the nucleus of this team). At 23, he became West Indies' youngest ever captain and in 2015 team's 2nd youngest Test Captain, and post that, he has never looked back. First, a look at his numbers, and then I'll praise him more (:P).

Source: Cricinfo

His overall stats aren't really good, even considering that he's an all-rounder. But, (focusing only on Test matches), when we look at his bowling average, it's 25.5 which is really good for a bowler of his type. And even his strike-rate, a wicket every 10 overs (pretty good for an all-rounder). Moreover, he's got a mentality of a strong captain. He has been seen taking responsibility whenever the team needs, rather than advising, he takes the ball and inspires the team. 

In the last test vs England, he was phenomenal with the ball and his 6/42 was his best figures with the ball. With the bat, he didn't have the greatest day but Dowrich, Braithwaite, and Blackwood took the charge. Chasing 200 on day 5 is not an easy task and looking at the recent fall of the West Indies, it even seemed impossible. For Holder, this was one of his best victories and in doing so, he even surpassed Brian Lara's captaincy record and became West Indies' joint 3rd most successful captain with 11 wins in 33 tests. In 33 tests, that means he was given captaincy after 8 matches only (this showed the miserable situation of West Indies Cricket). With his intent and the players he is getting recently, it seems that West Indies will soon challenge for the upper half of the ICC Test Rankings. Until then let's wait for the next match in the series and celebrate the return of cricket and perhaps test cricket in West Indies.