Holder hoping to rediscover form

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Test skipper Jason Holder is confident about returning to his best One-Day form following a recent lean patch and said he was still adjusting to the transition of being just a player again after being replaced as captain eight months ago.

The 28-year-old all-rounder has been one of the Caribbean side’s most reliable players, especially in Tests and One-Day Internationals (ODI), but has averaged just 10 with the bat in his last eight ODIs and taken only six wickets.

“Situations haven’t really gone my way in terms of having an extended time to bat in One-Day cricket, which I feel, personally, has contributed to me not having that score,” the Barbadian told TalkSPORT’s ‘Cricket Collective’ podcast.

“I’m a batsman who needs a little bit of time to get in and then flourish, and I haven’t had many opportunities to get a solid knock. And then, there hasn’t been much Test cricket going on as well …, which helps me a lot in terms of spending time at the crease and getting that batting that you would like.

“But I’m not too disheartened. I’ve done a lot of thinking, I’ve done a few technical sessions trying to work through some things that I wanted to correct, and I’m in really good spirits.

“I know the performances will come, and I’m just being as patient as I possibly can before that happens. I don’t think it will be long before you see me getting back to my normal self.

“I’m very, very confident. I don’t think it’s a question of my ability, it’s just performing and producing. The structure and dynamics have changed, and obviously, based on how things have gone, it’s little to no time when going in to bat.

“I’ve just got to find ways to cope and produce in these short stints of batting on the international stage.”

Holder, appointed One-Day captain six years ago, led Windies in 86 matches before being sacked last September after overseeing a failed World Cup campaign and a subsequent series defeat in the Caribbean to India.

He was replaced by seasoned all-rounder Kieron Pollard, with whom he said he shared a strong relationship.