Top ranked West Indies seamer, Jason Holder, is hoping that Jayden Seales is managed well enough to have a long a fruitful career while senior bowler, Kemar Roach, has some advice for him.
Both bowlers shared their thoughts on the 19-year-old over the week via press conferences after he took 3-75 in his debut against South Africa last week.
Holder, who is ranked eighth in the International Cricket Council’s Test rankings among bowlers said, “I think the sky’s the limit for him. I hope we manage him well and when I say manage him well we still have to understand this is his second first-class game and first test match so the body will take a little bit of time to adjust to the workload and we have to be very careful not to bowl him into the ground.”
The number one ranked all-rounder added, “I think sometimes we get excited with a young prospect such as Jayden and throw him in all three formats. I would personally just like to a gradual build up with him into the other formats if that’s the direction Cricket West Indies wants to go.”
Holder explained that he was very excited for Seales, recalling the moment he took his first test wicket and comparing the emotions to when he took his first, which was New Zealand’s Ross Taylor in Barbados almost seven years ago.
According to Holder who held on to a catch in the slips to hand Seales his maiden test wicket, “I am very very excited for Jayden. Look, it was special to see not only the way he bowled but the way the team rallied around him. I was actually commenting on his first test wicket and everybody was saying they really enjoyed how we got around him and I honestly felt I was taking my first test wicket when Jayden got his against [Keegan] Petersen, it was a pleasing moment for me.”
Despite finishing with 3-75, Holder was most impressed with Seales’ consistency, stating, “He was just there or thereabouts, nagging, he asked tons of questions throughout multiple stages of the game which was very impressive for a 19-year-old.”
Meanwhile, Roach offered some advice to the teenager who he admitted has a group of experienced campaigners around him always willing to lend advice and guidance as he embarks on what is hoped to be a long and productive career.
“Obviously we have a lot of discussions with him, me personally since he came into the side in New Zealand. I just want him to play smart, manage his body well, prepare himself for the workload that is ahead and obviously from a bowling perspective, just keep it as simple as possible, listen to the people around you as a young player. You can’t take everything but there is something you can take from everyone and just keep believing in yourself,” Roach stated.
