Former West Indies captain Jason Holder, who came in for universal acclaim when he led the first international cricket tour amid the coronavirus pandemic, has been named as one of Wisden’s five Cricketers of the Year.
Holder joins England batsmen Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley, Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan and Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens in being given a stamp of approval in the esteemed almanac’s slightly condensed 158th edition.
Stevens, who turns 45 later this month, is the oldest recipient since Ewart Astill in 1933 for an honor bestowed just once in a career, usually reserved for those who have shone during the preceding English domestic season.
While Holder’s six-for at the Ageas Bowl last July put the Windies on course for a win in the first Test after the outbreak of COVID-19 led to a global shutdown of sport, the mere fact they made the trip was an outright success.
At the time the UK was among the worst-affected nations, but the flexibility of Holder’s side facilitated the return of international cricket as they agreed to travel and spend two months in restrictive ‘bio-secure bubbles.
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Holder featured for West Indies against England in the two sides’ Test series last year
They may have departed these shores with a 2-1 defeat but there was endless gratitude from administrators and players alike at the end of a series where the teams showed their support for Black Lives Matter by taking a knee.
The symbolic act – spearheaded by the Windies and Holder, in particular – before each of the three Tests was a powerful image in cricket, with each member of the touring party raising gloved right fists for added significance.
Holder has since been superseded as Test captain by Kraigg Brathwaite but the integrity he showed while leading his side in an environment made all the more challenging by COVID-19 did not go unnoticed by Wisden.
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Holder said the recognition is the reward for his hard work.
“This award means so much to me. I’m delighted that my efforts to play well and make a contribution have been bearing fruit and I just want to continue and reach higher heights,” he said.
“To be named one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year is something truly special as over the years I have seen a list of great players who have etched their names in history. The last recipient from West Indies was Shai Hope in 2017 and after seeing his performances it inspired me to be one of the Wisden Cricketers of the future.”
Jason Holder's message to the fans upon being named Wisden Cricketer of the Year! 🏆🌴 @Jaseholder98 pic.twitter.com/rdNFRo2dQ7
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) April 15, 2021
Meanwhile, CWI President Ricky Skerritt praised the talented all-rounder.
“Congratulations to Jason whose all-around cricket excellence is making all West Indians proud. For such a relatively young and intelligent athlete, he should get even better,” he said.
Jimmy Adams, CWI’s Director of Cricket said Holder was deserving of the recognition.
“On behalf of all of us at Cricket West Indies, I want to congratulate Jason on his being selected as one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year,” Adams said.
“In a period that has thrown up many challenges, he has performed consistently with distinction and dignity both on and off the field and we wish him all the success possible going forward.”
Holder joins a list of distinguished West Indies players who have been named among Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year. See the list below.
West Indies Wisden Cricketers of the Year
Names in brackets indicate the player was chosen for his feats for a county team. All others were picked mainly for their feats at the international level.
2021 – Jason Holder
2018 – Shai Hope
2013 – Marlon Samuels
2008 – Shiv Chanderpaul (Ottis Gibson)
1997 – (Phil Simmons)
1995 – (Brian Lara)
1992 – Curtly Ambrose, Richie Richardson
1991 – (Desmond Haynes)
1989 – Jeff Dujon (Franklyn Stephenson)
1987 – (Courtney Walsh)
1985 – Larry Gomes
1983 – (Alvin Kallicharran, Malcolm Marshall)
1980 – Joel Garner
1979 – (John Shepherd)
1977 – Gordon Greenidge, Michael Holding, Viv Richards
1975 – (Andy Roberts)
1974 – Keith Boyce, Roy Fredericks
1972 – (Lance Gibbs)
1971 – (Clive Lloyd)
1970 – Basil Butcher
1967 – Seymour Nurse
1964 – Charlie Griffith, Conrad Hunte, Rohan Kanhai, Garfield Sobers
1959 – (Roy Marshall)
1958 – OG “Collie” Smith, Clyde Walcott
1951 – Sonny Ramadhin, Alf Valentine, Everton Weekes, Frank Worrell
1940 – Learie Constantine
1934 – George Headley
1915 – (Sydney Gordon Smith)
