Kraigg Brathwaite named West Indies' new Test captain
Brathwaite is the 37th player to have been named the West Indies' men's Test captain and goes into the role having already led them seven times in the absence of Holder.
He most recently captained them to a 2-0 series win in Bangladesh and his next assignment will be defeating Sri Lanka in the Caribbean when their two-Test series starts later this month.
"It is a huge honour to be given the captaincy of the West Indies Test team," Brathwaite said. "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.”
Cricket West Indies (CWI) Lead Selector Roger Harper pointed to the West Indies' recent success in Bangladesh as evidence of Brathwaite's suitability for the role.
"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," 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.”
Holder was thanked by Jimmy Adams, CWI Director of Cricket, for everything he had achieved across his 37 Tests in charge - the fifth most by a West Indies Test captain.
“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," Adams said. "Throughout his five-and-a-half-year tenure, he has led with dignity while always upholding the highest values of the sport."
He added that Holder still had a significant part to play in the Test team.
"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.”