Watch: Jason Holder had quite a few words to say to Sri Lanka batsman Dhananjaya de Silva, going on a full-fledged sledging session on day two of the second Test in Antigua.
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With Dinesh Chandimal and de Silva rebuilding after Sri Lanka lost three wickets fairly early, West Indies fast bowlers went for an aggressive, short ball ploy against the two batsmen. Accompanying some rather hostile bowling from Shannon Gabriel and Alzarri Joseph was some animated comments from Jason Holder in the slip cordon.
After Gabriel nearly had de Silva caught on the hook, Holder had some words to throw at the Lankan batsman.
“Shannon what you bowling for at the stump, they are already on the backfoot,” Holder shouted from the cordon.
Walking back, he couldn’t resist a sly at de Silva, calling him out by his name – “Dhananjayaaa, happy hooker boy, happy hooker.” The Sri Lankan was seen smiling under his helmet at the comment before Holder went full Michael Clarke.
“We’ve got a happy hooker! Remember you got your arm broken last time you were here boy,” Holder shouted. Clarke had infamously told James Anderson during the 2013-14 Ashes to “get ready for a broken f****** arm”.
Watch the incident here:
Sound on for some chirp from Jason Holder😆 🔊 "Shannon what you bowlin fuh at the stump, they already on de backfoot!"#WIvSL #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/QOxESeUzTm
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) March 30, 2021
Holder did not stop his sledging as he kept chirping the next few overs. In the next over by Joseph, Holder was heard on the stump mic again, looking to put the Lankan batsmen under pressure. “It’s too boring here… they say they want to take him on this over boys!”
A frustrated de Silva later retorted after Holder squeezed in some comments about his selection.
“He’s got one wicket all tour and no runs. Not quite sure the selectors will like that,” Holder screamed as de Silva chirps back with a “that’s you.”
