Jason Holder desperate to ignore the enormity of West Indies' date with destiny

NICK HOWSON: Just one win away from a first Test series win in England since 1988, but the skipper is trying to keep his squad's feet firmly on the ground

• Holder success proves Dukes can swing without saliva
• Sheldon Cottrell: Forever a soldier

West Indies may have to contend with the return of Joe Root, an unshackled Ben Stokes and an angry Stuart Broad during the second Test at Emirates Old Trafford, but captain Jason Holder has an even greater concern: keeping his players grounded as they stand one win away from a first series win on these shores since 1988.

If the Windies were going to ambush the hosts in this series, their best chance was always going to be at The Ageas Bowl. The combination of some rusty players, some strange surroundings, a hectic upcoming schedule, and a tired pitch combined to produce a winning formula.

Backing up that four-wicket win, not least the performance which grew in character as the match progressed, is an altogether different challenge. And from that perspective, Holder's pragmatism is more than understandable.

"The series is still wide open," said the skipper. "There are 10 days of cricket left. It is one day at a time for us. England are a very good cricket team, they've some world-class players. 

WATCH! England v West Indies 2nd Test preview with The Voice newspaper

"We've got our work cut out to win another Test. We don't get too far ahead of ourselves. This group has done an outstanding job, not just in this Test series so far but in terms of our results.

"Whether we're playing against Bangladesh, Pakistan, England or Australia, when we start the series we want to win the series. Winning the first Test is only one piece of the puzzle. 

"We've got two other games to play. We don't get ahead of ourselves, that's the last thing we could do as far as getting complacent. We start afresh. We won a game but that doesn't change anything for us in terms of our strategies.

Few gave West Indies, despite their red-ball improvement under Holder's guidance and encouraging recent record against England, a hope of upsetting the apple cart this summer - despite the unique circumstances surrounding the series.

^{Shai Hope looks set to remain at No.3 for the Windies}

Victory either this week or next in Manchester would secure a series win in England for the first time for 32 years. Additionally, not since the late 90s have West Indies held the Wisden Trophy at the end of back-to-back series.

"I've not mentioned anything about history to the guys," admitted the ICC's No.1 allrounder. "It is not time for us to get caught up in the peripheral stuff. We're here to play cricket and win this series.

"There are things out of our control and it makes no sense. We can control the cricket we play and that's the only thing that I'm going to shout to the guys and feed them with. Afterward, we can look back and see what we achieved as a group."

As potent as the West Indies' pace attack was last week, Shannon Gabriel and Holder himself were inspired, and encouraging the middle-order batters were, it is hard to envisage a series win without Shai Hope contributing in a significant way. He scores at 24.77 since his twin centuries at Headingley in 2017 and looked badly out of form on the south coast.

^{The first-choice seam attack is set to feature for the second Test}

England have their own issues at No.3 and while Joe Denly has been dropped for this Test, their policy has been to put faith in those in possession. Holder, as it turns out, is no different.

"Going into a series you want to give a player as much confidence as you possibly can," added Holder. "I don't look at whether you want to drop or select somebody else. 

"You have a core group of guys who you give every confidence boost too, or order for them to go and perform. The great thing about this side is we have been together for a while. One or two players have come in and one or two players have fallen out, but more or less the nucleus of the squad has been the same. 

"We keep encouraging our players. Shai is a quality player, we've seen that the last time we came to England and his one-day form is really good. I've got confidence that Shai Hope will deliver. He just needs to get himself in and he'll go big for us."

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