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West Indies skipper Jason Holder says he’s not thinking about private accolades forward of the primary check towards England beginning on Wednesday regardless of it being billed as a conflict between the world’s finest two all-rounders.
Holder, attempting to turn out to be the primary West Indies captain to win a sequence in England since Viv Richards in 1988, is prime of the ICC’s all rounder rankings with Ben Stokes, who will skipper England for the primary time this week, second.
“I don’t really like to get into these personal accolades or ICC rankings,” Holder advised a information convention forward of the match on the Ageas Bowl, the primary worldwide cricket fixture because the novel coronavirus pandemic struck.
“Ben has always been talked up and quite rightfully so, he’s a really good cricketer, but the ICC rankings say that I’m the No. 1 ranked all rounder and maybe don’t get as much credit as probably I deserve, who knows?
“I do not get caught up with it, to be sincere. Journalists are there to put in writing their tales, I am merely right here to play cricket. It’s at all times a very good battle on the sphere whenever you face rivals like Stokesy, face rivals world wide.”
Holder, 28, has been described by former England skipper Michael Atherton as the best West Indies captain since Richards.
He led his team to a 2-1 series victory over England in the Caribbean in 2019, scoring his maiden Test double hundred in the first Test at Bridgetown that led to a 381-run win.
Though England won 2-1 at home in 2017, West Indies managed a memorable victory at Headingley.
BOWLING ATTACK
West Indies have a formidable-looking bowling attack and Holder believes enough experienced heads in the squad to make things extremely difficult for Stokes who will be standing in for Joe Root who misses the game because of paternity leave.
“If you take a look at the calibre of gamers we have — Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope have had success right here in England and that’s simply to call just a few,” he said.
“I am greater than assured that these guys will do nicely on this sequence.”
Holder will be embarking on his 33rd test as captain and, having reached 100 Test wickets against India in Jamaica last year, he needs only 102 runs to reach 2000 in Test cricket.
That double has only been achieved by two other West Indies players — Garfield Sobers and Carl Hooper.
“Before captaincy, I’m a participant and my performances should stand out: I should carry out my position for the workforce,” Holder said.
“With bat in hand, I’ve obtained to make runs, with the ball in hand I’ve obtained to take wickets and within the subject I’ve obtained to assist the blokes maintain on to probabilities.”
Asked if he had any words of advice for Stokes, Holder said England were in safe hands.
“He’s a wonderful cricketer, an incredible competitor and I’m certain the blokes in his dressing room look as much as him.”
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