Jason Holder Makes History: First West Indian to 100 Wickets Across All Formats
MUMBAI, India – West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder etched his name into cricket folklore on Saturday, becoming the first player from the Caribbean to capture 100 wickets in all three major international formats: Test, One Day International (ODI), and Twenty20 International (T20I). This remarkable achievement occurred during the West Indies’ 35-run victory over Scotland in their opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
A Milestone Achievement
The historic moment arrived when Holder dismissed Scotland captain Richie Berrington, caught on the deep point boundary. This wicket marked his 101st in T20I cricket, adding to his impressive tally of 162 wickets in 69 Test matches and 159 wickets in 138 ODIs. Holder’s versatility and consistent performance have solidified his position as a key asset for the West Indies team.
Holder Reflects on the Accomplishment
Speaking after the match, a humble Holder expressed his gratitude and surprise at reaching this milestone. “For me personally, 100 wickets in this format is a blessing, to be fair,” he stated. “I guess at the start of my career I wouldn’t have imagined this moment, being the first to take 100 wickets in each format of the game, but I take it as it comes. I’m very, very happy and I thank my teammates over the years, and hopefully I can get a few more.”
Team Success Takes Priority
Despite the personal significance of his achievement, Holder emphasized the importance of the team’s victory and securing crucial points in the tournament. “First and foremost, to get two points on the board was key. It was a very crucial game for us to start the campaign really well. Credit to the boys, we played a really good game,” he said. He acknowledged the challenges faced during the match and praised the team’s resilience in overcoming them, viewing it as a positive sign for their future performance.
Looking Ahead: Consistency and Improvement
With a challenging Group C clash against England on the horizon, Holder stressed the need for consistency across all aspects of the game. He specifically highlighted the fielding department as an area requiring urgent improvement. “I think we ticked a lot of boxes in the first game. We keep challenging ourselves in each department, and we all know we can improve in each department as we go on in this tournament,” Holder explained. “But for me, just be consistent; consistent with our attitude, consistent with our bowling, and also consistent with batting as well. We’ve definitely got to touch up in the field; we’ve been letting ourselves down and dropping a few chances, so that’s an area we can definitely improve on as well, too.”
Holder concluded with optimism, expressing his satisfaction with the team’s start and emphasizing the importance of continued growth and building momentum throughout the tournament. You can find more information about the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on the official ICC website.
