Richard Pybus, the Windies interim coach, lavished praise on skipper Jason Holder ahead of the Test series against England, saying he has handled a “tough” leadership role “exceptionally well”.
Pybus added that Holder, who was handed the captaincy as a 23-year-old back in 2014, has come into his own over time and is now morphing into a reliable cricketer as well as leader.
“At times it has been a really tough gig, from where he started to where he is now, and I think he has handled that exceptionally well,” acknowledged Pybus. “His performance has really evolved over the last while and he has become one of the standout all-rounders in international cricket.
“He was superb with the ball last year and his batting has really come on. So, I think he’s also getting to a point in terms of his own personal maturity, where he’s comfortable where he is with the captaincy, and I think he is confident being in a situation where he can really demand excellence out of the side.”
Pybus and Holder’s first challenge of 2019 comes against England, who have travelled to the Caribbean for a full tour. They will play three Tests, five one-day internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals over the next couple of months.
“We have a clear goal, we are here to win the series. Playing at home in the region, the guys are very motivated,” said the 54-year-old. “We’ve got a test match coming up. That for me, is what I’m personally focused on. Wherever you are, there are critics, and as a coach, your job is to make sure that you produce winning cricket.”
The first of three Tests will be played in Barbados from 23 January.
