Holder targets T20 improvement

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Jason Holder has made his name in the game's longest format where he has led the Windies for the last four years and risen to become the world's leading all-rounder.

But with just sporadic Twenty20 appearances - he has played just 11 games since his debut five years ago - the 27-year-old has never made an impression in the shortest format, as the likes of Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo have excelled.

However, the Barbadian has now set his sights on dominating the format after leading Barbados Tridents to the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title earlier this month, and being picked in the Windies squad to face Afghanistan in India next month.

"Feels great to be back in the T20 side and to be playing in all three formats for the West Indies again," the Windies captain said.

"It was great to win the CPL with the Tridents and I did quite well, so happy to be back for the Windies. We are gearing towards the T20 World Cup coming up in just under a year and I want to be a part of that.

Jason Holder sends Shimron Hetmyer on his way during a playoff match in the Caribbean Premier League.

"I want to play a significant part. I was part of the set-up three years ago when we won in India and that was a wonderful feeling."

International appearance

He was one of Tridents' leading bowlers, taking 14 wickets with his fast-medium at 25 apiece and an economy rate of seven.

Holder's last T20 International appearance came earlier this year on England's tour of the Caribbean but only because selectors opted to use the one-day squad in the three-match series as preparation for the 50-overs World Cup.

Under Holder's outstanding leadership, the Windies trounced England 2-1 in a three-Test series at the start of the year to reclaim the cherished Wisden Trophy for the first time in a decade.

And with a return series in England scheduled for next June, Holder is well aware of the massive challenge lying in wait in foreign conditions.

"That's the major challenge on the horizon for the Test team as we look ahead to the future tours programme," he said.