'A matter of managing the pain' – Jason Holder pushing to be ready for second Test
Apart from Holder, Shannon Gabriel is also an injury concern for the Windies, and Holder said the team would make a call on their participation on the morning of the game.
"I am pushing really hard to be ready for the Test match,” Holder told presspersons on Wednesday, 10 October about his ankle issue. “I felt in the last Test match, it just wasn't right. But I’ve had a scan and it didn't turn out to be too bad.
#WIvIND Check out some of the snaps from the WINDIES training session ahead of the 2nd Test against India starting at midnight on Friday. Which of these guys do you think will have the biggest impact? pic.twitter.com/fP1ICgA4i5
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) October 10, 2018
“It's a matter of managing the pain. It’s not been a situation where I’ve gone 100% on the field in a very long time. It’s nothing new to me, I’m up for the challenge.
“What I didn’t want last match was to start a Test match and then be in a situation where I am not able to finish it and put a strain on the other bowlers. I feel a lot stronger now and the pain has decreased. It's a matter of sustaining for five days."
Skipper Jason Holder @jaseholder98 speaks to the media ahead of the 2nd Test Match against India in Hyderabad. Stay tuned to our page or visit https://t.co/6TUKc2hD7J for updates on the India tour. #WindiesCricket pic.twitter.com/cRzZujcyRB
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) October 10, 2018
The visitors, ranked eighth on the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings, had a tough time of it against Virat Kohli’s No.1 side in Rajkot, where they suffered their biggest defeat to India inside three days.
Holder, however, brushed aside the criticism against his team and said their focus should be on patience and building partnerships, and playing good cricket.
“A lot of things have been said about this Test team particularly, which I’m not in agreement with,” he insisted. “We’ve beaten top sides in the last two-three years that we’ve played. We’ve maybe not won as many series as we would like, but within the last year, I think we've won two out of four or five series we've played. So I don't understand why people would be this harsh towards us.
In focus - 📸📸📸 #TeamIndia prep for the 2nd Test at Hyderabad #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/Za4gycI6Ki
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 10, 2018
"We're playing the No.1 side in India in their backyard. And history would show [the Windies] haven't won a Test match here since 1994. If you look at the players who came through West Indies cricket, I think Brian Lara and these guys were playing in that time.
"But everyone is entitled to their opinion. I just focus primarily on what I have to do and what the team has to do."