WI vs SL: Kraigg Brathwaite replaces Jason Holder as West Indies Test captain

The Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced on Thursday (March 11) that opening batsman Kraigg Brathwaite will replace all-rounder Jason Holder as the West Indies Test captain. Brathwaite, who has previously led the team in seven Tests while deputising for Holder, including the recent 2-0 Test series win away to Bangladesh, becomes the 37th Test captain of the West Indies. 

Holder, the current No. 1 all-rounder in the ICC Test rankings, captained the West Indies team in 37 Tests since taking over from Denesh Ramdin in 2015, leading the side to 11 wins, 5 draws and 21 defeats. Jimmy Adams, CWI Director of Cricket paid tribute to Holder saying: “On behalf of CWI, I would like to thank Jason for all he has given to the game in the region while serving as Captain of our Test team. Throughout his five-and-a-half-year tenure, he has led with dignity while always upholding the highest values of the sport. As the world’s leading Test all-rounder, we all believe that Jason still has a tremendous role to play in West Indies Test Cricket for many years to come.” 

CWI chief selector Roger Harper felt Brathwaite was the right man to lead the West Indies Test team. “We all believe that Kraigg is the right man to lead our Test side at this point in time and I’m delighted that he has accepted the role. In the recent Test series against Bangladesh, Kraigg was able to motivate his players to play to a very high level and create the culture we are looking to establish where the team showed a collective determination to fight and a real hunger for success,” former West Indies off-spinner Harper said.  

New Test skipper Brathwaite was ‘extremely proud and humbled’ by the opportunity. “It is a huge honour to be given the Captaincy of the West Indies Test team. I feel extremely proud and humbled that the Board and Selectors have given me the opportunity and responsibility to lead the team. The recent Test Series win in Bangladesh was a fantastic achievement and I’m really looking forward to the upcoming home series against Sri Lanka and I’m excited about what I believe this team can achieve in the future,” Brathwaite said.  

The squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka will be announced on Saturday during the interval of the second CGI Insurance ODI at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (SVRS).