Holder retains Test captain role for New Zealand tour

West Indies’ Jason Holder celebrates the dismissal of India’s Rohit Sharma during the third and final One-Day International cricket match of the series between India and West Indies in Cuttack, India, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019.
Associated Press / Mahesh Kumar A., file

World number one all-rounder Jason Holder has been retained as Test captain for the tour of New Zealand, which bowls off next month.

Chairman of West Indies Selectors, Roger Harper, confirmed that the 28-year-old Barbadian would continue in the post for the two-Test series, despite the recent struggles of the regional team.

Roger Harper, CWI chief selector and former Kenya coach. Associated Press / Matt Dunham, file

West Indies has won just seven of the last 20 Tests and currently languishes at eight in the ICC Test rankings, only above Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

Holder said the selectors are not thinking of changing the captain.

Holder was appointed captain in 2015, replacing wicket-keeper, Denesh Ramdin and has since led West Indies in 35 of his 45 Tests, winning 11, losing 19 and drawing five.

He was relieved of the One-Day International captain last year after five years at the helm and replaced by veteran Kieron Pollard, who also assumed leadership of the Twenty20 team.

Harper, who took over the selection panel last year, said Holder remained the first choice captain since there was a dearth of leadership qualities not only throughout the ranks of the Test side but across the regional game