Windies pitches not good for attractive cricket: Skipper Holder

Port of Spain: West Indies Test captain Jason Holder has said the standard of pitches in the Caribbean needs to improve if teams are to produce more attractive cricket.

The 24-year-old, also the Barbados Pride skipper, said scores in the ongoing Regional Super50 had been low because pitches were slow and turning, and not conducive to good stroke play.

The West Indies lost two-nil to Australia in a three-match Test series which ended recently.

While the West Indies moved up to the top of the T20 rankings earlier this month, they are languishing at the bottom in Test and One-Day International ratings.

Concerns have been raised from several quarters about the steady decline of the once mighty West Indies, winner of two World Cups, in their 1970s heydays.

“It’s been tough. Obviously the scores are not what we’ve been accustomed to in One-day cricket, and I think that’s been due to the slow pitches,” Holder said.

“I’ve found it very difficult so far batting in this tournament in the middle overs especially, and trying to get the ball off the square. I think spinners are dominating it and that’s because the ball has spun quite early and quite sharply."

“I just think we need to work a little bit more on improving our pitches and… stroke-play and the viewing of the cricket would be a lot better.”