St JOHN’S (Antigua): Opening batsman Kraigg Brathwaite will replace Jason Holder as West Indies Test captain, ending the all-rounder’s five-and-half years tenure in charge of the squad, Cricket West Indies (CWI) said on Thursday.

Since taking the reins in 2015, 29-year-old Holder has led West Indies in 37 Tests and is currently the format’s top ranked all-rounder.

Brathwaite, who had deputized for Holder as captain in seven Tests, led a second-string West Indies to a 2-0 series sweep in Bangladesh last month after several frontline players, including Holder, skipped the tour due to health concerns amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

“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,” chief selector Roger Harper said. “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.”

Brathwaite called it a ‘huge honour’. “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.”

Holder captained West Indies to 11 wins, five draws and 21 defeats.

“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,” CWI director of cricket Jimmy Adams said while adding Holder would continue to be a key player for the team. “Throughout his five-and-a-half-year tenure, he has led with dignity while always upholding the highest values of the sport,” Adams said. “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.”

West Indies will play two Tests against Sri Lanka later this month with the squad for the opening game to be announced later on Friday.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2021