West Indies must be smart to topple England: Holder

SOUTHAMPTON: West Indies captain Jason Holder says his resurgent side are using their brains as well as brawn ahead of a World Cup clash with hosts England on Friday (today).

The West Indies have already shown what they are capable of, bowling Pakistan out for just 105 thanks to a barrage of bouncers on the way to a seven-wicket win in their opening game. The two-time World Cup champions lost narrowly to Australia after being well-placed to beat the reigning title-holders, before rain wrecked their match against South Africa, with the sides taking a point each.

But they will enter their match against England in Southampton with confidence as the only team at the World Cup not to have lost their previous One-day International series to Eoin Morgan’s men, drawing 2-2 in the Caribbean earlier this year.

With pace in abundance from the likes of Oshane Thomas, Andre Russell, Sheldon Cottrell, as well as Holder himself, the West Indies have an attack to worry every team. But Holder believes it is their ability to outfox batsmen in the middle overs that has sparked an upturn in form since the 2015 World Cup — a four-year period in which they did not win an ODI series.

“We have always got wickets with the new ball,” he said in his pre-match press conference on Thursday. “But previously we haven’t been able to get wickets in the middle overs.

“And it’s been the talking point over the last couple of months in one-day cricket and now in this tournament we have been able to get wickets in the middle overs, which has definitely broken the back of most teams.”

Following the South Africa no result, the England game has taken an even greater importance for the West Indies. But Holder is not worried yet and, with all-rounder Russell likely to be fit following a knee injury, he expects his side to throw all they have at the hosts.

“I think the brand of cricket we have been playing so far in this World Cup, you know what to expect of West Indies now,” he said. “For us, we are not going to back down from the challenge. Most of our guys are always up for the challenge and it is just a matter for us to be smart. “And I don’t think there is anything else to be said, just be smart and play the brand of cricket we want to play,” he added.