Cricket West Indies (CWI) on Thursday announced that Kraigg Brathwaite will replace Jason Holder as the captain in the longest format and will lead the side during the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka later this month.
Brathwaite has previously led the team in seven Tests, including the recent Test series against Bangladesh that West Indies won 2-0. Holder had chosen not to tour Bangladesh due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.
“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,” Brathwaite said.
“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,” the 28-year-old added.
Selectors were impressed with Brathwaite’s leadership and how he 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”, one of the lead selectors Roger Harper said.
CWI thanked Holder for his contribution to the team as captain and hoped he will continue to serve play for West Indies “for many years to come”.
“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. 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 director of cricket Jimmy Adams said.
Holder has captained West Indies in 37 Tests, leading the side to 11 wins, five draws and 21 defeats. He is the current number one all-rounder in the ICC Test rankings.
The West Indies squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka, scheduled for March 21-25, will be announced on Friday.