da bet7： Roland Holder’s first-class cricket career isn’t over yet
17-Jan-2002Roland Holder’s first-class cricket career isn’t over yet. Theexperienced middle-order batsman, who has been discarded by theBarbados selectors, was yesterday appointed captain of the West Indies’B’ team for the forthcoming Busta Series.I was surprised at the offer. It was very late in coming,Holder saidon Voice of Barbados’ Tell It Like It Is Programme minutes last nightafter his appointment was announced by West Indies Cricket Board(WICB) chief cricket operations officer Michael Hall.Perhaps I was caught a little bit off-guard. I had to give it someconsideration, Holder added. They actually approached me yesterday, soit took a while for me to make up my mind and decide on it.The West Indies ‘B’ team, participating in the championship for thesecond successive year, are a development side for Under-23 playersaround the region who are unable to make their national sides. But theWICB has once more opted for a seasoned player as captain. Former WestIndies captain Richie Richardson led the team last year.In this capacity, I’d be more there to advise granted that I’m goingto have to field, bat and do whatever else, Holder said.I wouldn’t want to play the leading role. The tournament is more forthe Under-23 people. I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to guide them,hopefully along the same sort of lines that I’ve tried to do forEmpire and the youth we have there.Against the background that he has not been in serious training inrecent weeks, his fitness may be tested. But at least he comes intothe competition with the benefit of the full Division 1 season behindhim in which he snared the most dismissals as a wicket-keeper.I don’t think I’ve been doing too much work, Holder admitted.Initially, it may be a bit of a problem. I’ll just have to pacemyself.Holder, who made his first-class debut in 1986 while still a schoolboyat Combermere, was a seasoned Barbados player and national captainbetween 1992 and 1994 and again in 1999.His appointment as West Indies ‘B’ captain presents him with thechance to achieve the landmark of playing 100 first-class matches. Hegoes into the tournament with 98 matches in which he has scored 5 550runs (average 38.27), including 16 centuries and 23 half-centuries.The Busta Series opens next week Friday, but the selection of the WestIndies ‘B’ team has been delayed for various reasons. Their firstmatch is against Bangladesh ‘A’, who arrive in Antigua on January 20.