Holder glad for break from cricket

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Test captain Jason Holder has pointed to “mental fatigue” as an added reason behind his decision not to tour Bangladesh but said his commitment to West Indies remained steadfast, after copping criticism for opting out of the ongoing international series.

The world-rated all-rounder led West Indies on historic tours of England and New Zealand last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but was one of 10 players who declined selection for the ongoing Bangladesh series tour over what Cricket West Indies labelled “COVID-related concerns or personal fears”.

However, it was Holder’s decision to feature in the Australia Big Bash last December but then declined to tour Bangladesh starting in January, which drew criticism from some.

“A lot of people just don’t understand,” Holder told Starcom Radio’s Mason and Guest this week.

“I would hate to think people would question my commitment to West Indies cricket. I’ve been on the road for eight years consistently now playing for West Indies and I’ve had tonnes of opportunities to go abroad and play in domestic Twenty20 leagues … and I’ve had opportunities to go around the world and I’ve always put West Indies cricket first.

“So for people to now come and question particularly my commitment, it shows me that people just don’t understand.

“My reasoning for not going to Bangladesh is obviously I had concerns over the integrity of the bubble but more so it was just mental fatigue.

“I’ve been on the road for six months, after the tour of New Zealand it was a pretty tough tour, mentally draining as well too and I was getting to the point where I was not only physically tired but mentally tired.

“I was not sure I could survive and cope with another bubble; that would have been seven months basically on the road.”

West Indies were the first team to tour following the global lockdown of cricket due to COVID-19, when Holder oversaw a three-Test series in England last July.

The 28-year-old returned to lead Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League staged in Trinidad in August and September before heading off to the Indian Premier League in the United Arab Emirates, where he turned out for Sunrisers Hyderabad as a last-minute replacement for injured Australian Mitchell Marsh.

Holder then travelled to New Zealand for the two-Test series against the hosts and on to Australia where he played three matches for Sydney Sixers.

Holder is now in Antigua with Barbados Pride preparing for Cricket West Indies’ Regional Super50 Cup which starts tomorrow.