EVERY BARBADIAN should be proud of the appointment of the new captain of the West Indies Test cricket team, Jason Holder. While the team must rise above the insularity which plagues this region, Holder’s appointment is still a singular honour for Barbados.
However, Holder must not be under any illusion that having been selected captain that he has accomplished his ultimate goal. His goal must be in rebuilding and moulding a winning West Indies team. Despite the plaudits and words of praise he must not be coy about the path ahead.
Holder follows in the illustrious footsteps of former Barbadian captains of the team, the region’s most successful cross-border unit. The synergies over the years of this sporting unit have been spectacular. So he must fill those mighty shoes and high standards set by John Goddard, Denis Atkinson, Frank Worrell and Garfield Sobers. It is not going to be an easy task.
We have seen many a good man take up the challenge to lead the calypso cricketers only to leave in failure and or frustration. Not since the halcyon days of Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards between the 1980s through to the early 1990s has West Indies cricket been consistently at the pinnacle of the game.
Fortunately for Holder, his qualities on and off the field – gentlemanly behaviour and level-headedness – have won him favour. But his new position demands much more. It is going to be imperative that the West Indies Cricket Board puts all systems in place to ensure his success. Giving him the job but not preparation for the many challenges ahead can spell disaster.
The problems on and off the field have been varied and many. That is why Holder must not rely only on his natural ability to play the game or his pleasant demeanour. His new job is not one of leading the Barbados squad or the limited-overs edition of this elite sport, but being in charge of a squad which drives passion across the region.
The new captain must understand that he is not leading a homogenous squad of players and that the same sound of praise which greeted his appointment can easily turn into a chorus of boos and denunciation. He may learn this as soon as the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka if he does not return with the honours.
Holder must be well prepared for this job especially as it relates to his skills in managing talented people, dealing with diversity, industrial relations, communications and human relations. He must exhibit the leadership skills required of a chief operations officer of a big company charged with turning around its success. And while we expect anyone in this position to be well trained and prepared for their duties, so should it be with the West Indies cricket captain otherwise we may be setting him up for failure.
Congratulations to our new captain, Jason Holder.
