West Indies skipper Jason Holder doesn’t expect his young and inexperienced side to improve by leaps and bounds and said they are looking for a steady progression as they go into the four-Test series against India with confidence.
“The ultimate aim is to start performing well in Test cricket. We have got a young side, and we are looking to build something,” said Holder ahead of the opening Test starting at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Thursday.
“In the last series we played in Australia, we didn’t start really well. Moving on into the Test series, we got significantly better,” he said.
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“All I stress and address with the guys is to keep improving. You can’t expect leaps and bounds, too much from a very young side. Once we get the steady progression in terms of improvement, I think we’ll move forward,” he added.
Holder also stressed on the importance of fitness during a four-match Test series.
“In the recent past, we’ve played two-three Test matches in a series and this is the first time I am involved in a four-match series. It’s really important that we manage our bodies as well as possible,” he said.
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“It’s not going to be easy. But once you manage yourselves well, in between Test matches and on the field, you should get through quite well,” he noted.
The pitch here in St. John’s has been the centre of attraction as there is a little grass left on it. It is a bit different from the slow wickets laid out for the two practice games in St. Kitts.
“The wickets have died down significantly. If you look at the series in the recent past, you see a lot slow turning tracks. I remember the last time in Antigua, it was a pretty good wicket and it lasted all five days. If this wicket’s anything similar to that, we can expect a really competitive game,” Holder said.
“Having said that, it’s hard to predict what you get at certain places you go. I think it’s just a matter of assessing whatever you get and make a decision there in terms of your selections and combinations,” he added.
West Indies will be relying on a mix of experience in the form of Marlon Samuels and Darren Bravo, while some of their younger players have already tasted the Indian bowling in St. Kitts.