West Indies captain Jason Holder has asked his teammates, particularly hitters, to “look in the mirror” after their toughest loss to New Zealand in Test 1, by one inning and 134 careers.
The West Indies were eliminated by 138 and 247 on a surface at Seddon Park that saw New Zealand accumulate 519 for 7 despite losing the draw and being sent. The second inning was rescued from a 155-run bracket collapse for the seventh wicket between Jermaine Blackwood (104) and Alzarri Joseph (86), but other than them, no West Indies batter crossed 30 in two innings.
The top five added 100 runs between them in two innings and Holder didn’t mince words in the postgame presentation, saying the higher order had to stand up.
“I think it’s time we started complying and stopped talking,” Holder said. “We’ve talked a lot, we’ve promised a lot. I think it’s a matter of all of us looking in the mirror and understanding that we have to fight a bit more. We are probably throwing in the towel too easily, just being honest. only we can do it. We have had brilliant support from this management and staff, they have put everything in its place. It’s only for us to live up to it.
“I thank Jermaine Blackwood and Alazarri Joseph for bringing some respectability to our hitting, but frankly our higher order just needs to stay on its feet.”
One of the questions Holder had of his hitters was being prepared to drop certain shots early in his innings and sell his windows at a higher price.
“Honestly, we’re still scratching our heads,” he said. “Before the first test, I felt that the preparation was good. I think our preparation has always been really good. It’s just trying to send him to the test circuit. We had two solid warm-up games in Queenstown. The surfaces were a bit different than the ones that we have encountered here in Hamilton, but I still think it is necessary to show a little more application, especially at the front, I think we have to work a little more up front.
“We’ve seen how New Zealand bowlers, like every other bowler in the world, tend to deflate as partnerships are built. We just have to be able to understand that, fight much harder, keep them out there. a little. longer. Even if we give up a touchdown shot or two where we feel like we can count on to attack early. The more time you spend (on the fold), the easier it becomes. There are a lot of things we need to keep in mind, we need answers and we need them quickly. “
The West Indies will play their second and final round of this series starting December 11 in Wellington, but they probably won’t have two men who were part of their XI for the first round. Kemar Roach is set to fly back to the West Indies, having lost his father two days before the first test started, while Shane Dowrich is a dubious starter. Dowrich suffered a finger injury on the first day while holding and did not hit in any of the innings.
“Kemar, fortunately for us, managed to get through this test match, but I think he will go home after this to be with his family,” Holder said. “Shane, we’re not quite sure the extent of his finger injury at this point. He’s been complaining of a lot of pain. It seems pretty dubious for the second test as well, but we have to evaluate for the next couple of days.”
With Dowrich absent on the second day, Shamarh Brooks took the gloves for the West Indies. They have 22-year-old Joshua Da Silva, no cap, on the test team, as a reserve goalkeeper. One left field option they might consider is Nicholas Pooran, who is also in New Zealand with Team A from the West Indies. Pooran had 46 and 35 in a four-day match against New Zealand A, while Da Silva held ground.
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