Jason Holder Demands Disciplined Bowling Effort From Windies

The Windies posted a stiff 323-run target for India in the first one day international (ODI) but the home team, riding on the performances of in-form top order batsmen chased the total with utmost ease. Skipper Virat Kohli (140) and his deputy Rohit Sharma (152*) slammed tons, helping India register a comfortable eight-wicket win in the first match. Ahead of the second match of the series, scheduled to take place on October 24 in Visakhapatnam, Windies skipper Jason Holder has demanded discipline from his bowlers. Holder said that wickets with the new ball will be crucial if his team has to bounce back in the series. "In limited overs cricket, in these conditions you need to utilize the new ball. This is an area every team targets. We want to take few more wickets with the new ball," Holder said at the pre-match press conference. 

"We got one wicket in the last game and if we can get two or three wickets upfront, it will help us put pressure on their (India's) middle order." 

Holder felt the 320-odd runs his team scored at the Barsapara Stadium was below par, and given the way Kohli and Sharma made mince meat of the bowlers on a featherbed, he is not way off the mark. 

"Getting 320 is positive for us and we can build on that. We have all seen how the conditions can be in India. Here the par score can be anything from 320, 340 to 350 and you need to bowl ridiculously well to defend it," he said. 

"Hopefully, we will be able to repeat it (batting effort)." 

Shimron Hetmyer produced a sensational century and Kieran Powell a brisk fifty, but Holder, citing the Kohli-Sharma 246-run partnership, said his team's batting has to be clinical.

"I felt 320 was a little below par. Then again if we had taken a few more wickets, had broken that Virat-Rohit partnership it could have been different. It was a tough game," he said.

"When you put runs and are never too sure if it is enough or not... Obviously our bowlers dictated and struggled against Kohli and Rohit.

"We need to be more disciplined in bowling and a bit more clinical with the batting. Like how Rohit and Virat went the distance after India lost an early wicket," Holder added. 

With less than a year to go for the World Cup, the visiting skipper said the aim is to give everyone opportunity to prove their mettle, helping the team settle into a cohesive unit.

"For this tour we just want to give everyone an opportunity which can help them grow. World Cup is next year. We have got a young group. It's about giving them the opportunity to know what it takes to perform at this level," Holder said. 

Motivation could be a problem when a team keeps losing, but Holder said the youngsters' eagerness to prove that they belong to this level, is good enough reason to stay motivated. "It's not too hard. It is matter for us to be motivated. It's not hard as it's a young group who are eager to prove themselves when given an opportunity, showcase what they can do. Motivation is easy, it's about coming together more as a team," he said. 

Asked for his take on the long tour, he said, "You got to manage the players in the best way possible. There are pretty closely scheduled games. It is a matter for us to manage our players in the best way possible, keep them fresh." 

When asked about the pitch for tomorrow's game, the West Indies skipper said, "I had a look at the wicket and there is no grass. Spinners do pretty well here. Our spinners did not do that well in the last game, but credit must also go to the Indian players.

"I felt (Devendra) Bishoo came good in the second spell and looked a lot better, was able to get the wicket of Kohli, which will be crucial for him." 

(With PTI Inputs)

Topics mentioned in this article

India Cricket Team West Indies Cricket Team Jason Holder Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma ACA-VDCA Stadium, Visakhapatnam India vs West Indies 2018 Cricket India vs West Indies, 2nd ODI