Excerpts from Holder's media interaction:
'Youngsters are really eager for an opportunity'
I'm really confident of the young group that we have. Most of these guys have performed really well in the domestic competition. You've got young Roston Chase who's in the squad for the first time. He averages around 40 in First-Class cricket. You've got Shane Dowrich, who's been doing well over the last few seasons. Leon Johnson had a really good season. Those are just a few names who did well back in the first class competitions. So I think, all of them are really eager for an opportunity and I'm very very eager to go into the competition with them.
'Last time in Antigua was a good batting wicket'
Yeah, the wickets have died down significantly. If you look at the series in the recent past, you see a lot slow turning tracks, tracks that are relatively slow. To be fair, it's hard to predict the kind of wickets certain places you go. I remember the last time in Antigua, it was a pretty good wicket. It lasted all five days. If the wicket's anything similar to that, expect a really competitive game. The batsmen really dominated in that game. Having said that, again, it's hard to predict what you get, certain places you go. I think it's just a matter of assessing whatever you get and make a decision there in terms of your selections and combinations.
'Young players looking to make a legacy for themselves'
I think what motivates this young group is that everyone is trying to make a mark on theinternational scene. It's a very young team. Many of us are looking at finding our way in international cricket. I think it's important for the youngsters to just come in, to make their mark and solidify their place in the team, and to make a name for themselves. You know there is a rich legacy in West Indies cricket. Many of the young players are looking to make a legacy for themselves.
If you look at our side, we've got Miguel Cummins who's come into the side, he's done really well for the last two seasons in domestic cricket. You've got [Shannon] Gabriel, who's been bowling really well, but has been struggling from injuries. (However,) he's fit and ready to go. Carlos Brathwaite and myself you know are the two seamers and we are just looking to do what we're asked to do. I think it's important that each one knows their role. You know Shannon's obviously a fast and aggressive bowler. Miguel similarly. Myself and Carlos, we're mainly are the work horses in the unit. You just have to know your role. I don't think there's pressure really. Once you understand your role, you perform your role.
'Managing our bodies crucial in a four-Test series'
It's a fair point. It's the first time I'm involved in a series playing four Tests. I'm sure the other guys said the same. In the recent past, we've played two-three Test matches in a series. I think the name of the game is recovery in between Test matches. There's not much time either. I think it's really important that we manage our bodies as well as possible. Trying to be as fresh as possible for each Test match. It's not going to be easy. It's going to tough for every member of the squad. Once you manage yourselves well, in between Test matches and on the field, you should get through quite well.
'Can't expect leaps and bounds from a very young side'
You know that's the ultimate aim (to start performing well in Tests as well). We've got a young side, and it's good to see we have some young faces. We're looking to build something. In the last series we played in Australia, we didn't start really well (losing by an innings and 212 runs in the first Test and a 177-run loss in the second). Moving on into the Test series, we got significantly better. All I stress and address with the guys is to keep improving. You can't expect leaps and bounds, too much from a very young side. Once we get the steady progression in terms of improvement, I think we'll move forward.
'We don't have the luxury of experience'
Experience goes a long way. I remember starting my One-Day International career and having the likes of Darren Sammy, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Marlon Samuels ... who have all played a significant amount of cricket for the West Indies. In this side we have only got Marlon, who has played a few Test matches, Darren Bravo is probably the next highest-capped West Indies Test player. Having said that, I think we just need to stick together as a side. We have to live as a family and help one another as best as we possibly can. That's the only way we can move down the road from here. We don't have the luxury of that much experience in the squad. Everywhere we go there are legends of the game, in Antigua, in Jamaica, whatever information we can get from outside that is beneficial for the team, we need to pull together. Once we stay together that's the name of the game.
Firstly, I didn't get a chance to speak to Viv [Richards] personally, but I saw him interact with quite a few guys. We always like to see the legends coming around and share that experience. Their presence is always felt. In terms of this ground, we had a pretty good Test here coming back from behind to save it last time against England. Through the history of West Indies cricket Brian Lara has done some big things for West Indies cricket, albeit at the old ground, the Antigua Recreation Ground. Antigua has been a good place for West Indies in the past and hopefully going into this match it will continue to stay that way.
'I like to save my energy for the Test'
It is what it is. I'm in this position for a reason. People have entrusted me to lead the team. I think my performances must come first. I've played a lot of cricket this year already. As I said, it's about managing your body to get through a four-match Test series. I am a workhorse, so I don't particularly like to bowl that much leading into a Test match. I like to save my energy for the Test match because I know I'll be required to bowl quite a few overs. That's how my preparation goes in terms of my bowling. I try to bat a lot because I feel as though I need to pay a lot more attention there. That's more of my secondary part of my training. I try to work really hard to get my footwork going and my balance going which I feel is the key to my success.
'Play cricket as it is and not play names'
It (the pitch) has got a bit of grass on it. The last Test we played here there wasn't any grass on it. Pitches here in the Caribbean, it's a bit hard to predict what you will get. India rely on spin, but I need to see what is presented to us. We try not to predict too much of what's going to happen. We're trying to play cricket as we see it. You have to give [Ravichandran] Ashwin credit, he's one of the leading spin bowlers in the world, [Ravindra] Jadeja's done really well and [Amit] Mishra's in pretty good form. India will be relying on them to take the majority of wickets, depending on who plays, but there is plenty of quality in the seam attack as well. You have Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is a threat, Mohammed Shami, and Ishant Sharma has a pretty good Test record as well. I just think we want to play cricket as it is and not play names. We stand a much better chance taking the psychological part of it out of it.
'Discipline is key against Indian batsmen'
The name of Test cricket is discipline, when it comes to bowling. Where we fell down in the past is not being as disciplined as we would like. We've stressed discipline and being patient for longer periods. We come in and string together a good session but we tend to falter or fall off going deeper into the day. So far, what I've seen in the nets I'm really really pleased. The bowlers look good and we need to transfer that into the game.
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