WI legend Ambrose dismisses arguments made for Chemar Holder Test omission

WEST Indies fast-bowling legend Curtly Ambrose has rubbished suggestions that conditions in Bangladesh are a good reason for up-and-coming fast bowler Chemar Holder to be left out of the Test team for next month’s tour. The 22-year-old made his debut under difficult conditions in New Zealand, earlier this month, performing creditably, despite a heavy loss for the West Indies. Holder ended with figures of 2 for 110, with one maiden, but often providing some testing deliveries despite not claiming more wickets.
For next month’s tour, despite 12 first-team players opting not to take part in the series, there is no space in the Bangladesh Test squad for Holder. One of the players missing is West Indies captain Jason Holder, who typically makes up part of a pace-bowling quartet alongside Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach, and Alzarri Joseph.

Some believe Holder would have proved a suitable replacement for his namesake, but Cricket West Indies (CWI) chief of selectors Roger Harper pointed out that the player had been excluded for a spinner, considering the spin-friendly nature of pitches in Asia. Ambrose, however, does not agree and pointed out that it is crucial the young fast bowler, having shown promise, be given the opportunity to excel in all kinds of conditions. “That to me is utter nonsense. I can’t support that. If you want to be a top-class international cricketer, you have to be able to bowl on all surfaces, in all conditions anywhere you go,” Ambrose said. “To me, that type of reasoning does not hold any water, it is disappointing. Having made his debut in New Zealand and done fairly well on his debut, he is full of confidence. He is one of the guys for the future in my view. To be left out of the Test squad to me was a big surprise. Don’t tell me because it’s a spin-friendly environment that you are going to, you want to, walk with 10 spinners, that to me makes no sense.” (Sportsmax)