!["I think it's possibly a way to keep [Test cricket] alive"](https://i0.wp.com/battingwithbimal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/jasonholderaustraliavwestindies2ndtestx5hair5slyfx.jpg?ssl=1)
“I think it’s possibly a way to keep [Test cricket] alive”
West Indies captain Jason Holder has supported Kevin Pietersen’s idea that Test cricketers need to be paid higher salaries.
Pietersen said that players were being lured into playing domestic Twenty20 leagues instead of Test cricket due to the larger paychecks on offer.
Holder echoed Pietersen’s sentiments and believes that more incentives need to be introduced to convince players around the world to ply their trade in the sport’s toughest and longest format rather than its shortest.
“I think it’s possibly a way to keep [Test cricket] alive,” Holder told reporters. “Obviously we’re in a situation where the money isn’t great for us at the moment and we’ve been in numerous battles for that but that’s beyond our control at this present time. We’ve just got to play cricket. At the end of the day hopefully somewhere along the line we can have an increasing pay and be paid a little bit better than at the moment.”
While Holder is definitely passionate about Test cricket, he also admitted that he loves playing Twenty20s. However, he pointed out that a balance needs to struck between international cricket and domestic Twenty20 tournaments in order to ensure the latter does not overtake the former in terms of popularity.
“I think we need to strike a balance,” Holder said. “I’m not knocking T20 cricket because I love T20 cricket myself, but we just need to find a way where the country comes first and then we are flexible in terms of allowing people to make money outside of international cricket.
“I don’t think we should be playing hard ball and deny people from going and playing, but there has to be a situation where we make international cricket our first priority.
“I think once we get to that stage the players will buy in. We’ve had so many issues that are beyond our control – some players have chosen to go this way [to T20], and others have chosen to stay. I just control what I control at the moment and that’s just me playing cricket and trying to instil in the guys to play cricket to the best of their ability.”