Oxford Downs have secured the services of Barbadian spinner Chaim Holder for their 2024 Home Counties Premier League campaign.
Holder is an exciting off-spin bowling all-rounder playing alongside some of the biggest names in West Indian cricket.
After making his first-class debut for the Leeward Islands in January 2018, Holder had to bide his time till regular first-class outings came his way – and he didn’t disappoint.
After 3 WICB Professional (FC) matches for Barbados between 2018 and 2022, Holder made his mark in the 2022/23 West Indies 4-day Championship opener, taking 3-72 (36) in the first innings against eventual winners Guyana.
Thereafter, Holder excelled finishing second on Barbados’ wicket charts (to Windies’ international Akeem Jordan) with 18 poles at 20.83 including his maiden five wicket haul (5-71).
The Barbadian prospect now boasts 38 wickets at 25.78 in 13 first-class matches, and courtesy of his domestic exploits was rewarded with inclusion for the Headley-Weekes Tri-Series in April/May 2023. It’s fair to say, Holder has a future and is looking to capatilise on his current form with opportunities abroad.
Rolling back the years, Holder, who represented Barbados through the age-groups, has excelled in the BCA Elite Division for Spartan since 2013. He also made his List A debut in the same year for the Combined Campuses and Colleges taking 1-17 against Barbados. His selection followed a strong all-round performance against the touring Zimbabweans for the University of West Indies Vice Chancellor’s XI (2-50 and 33).
Prior to his first-class debut, Holder was a regular member of Barbados XI’s that played against the touring Counties (2015-16), taking the notable wickets of Josh Cobb, Adam Rossington (Northants), Jimmy Adams, Adam Wheater (Hampshire) and Tom Lewis, Sam Hain (Warwickshire).
In Premier club cricket, he has been a stand-out player for Spartan over the years, with Elite Division season tallies of 30 wickets at 18.60 (2014), 36 wickets at 21.63 (2015), 36 wickets at 15.38 (2016), 48 wickets at 12.27 (2017), 21 wickets at 29.28 (2018), and 32 wickets at 14.46 (2019).
With the bat, Holder is an explosive batter, predominately from the middle-order. In 2018, he averaged 42.33 and 14.82 in the BCA Super Cup and Elite Division, respectively, then 24.87 in the latter the following summer.
The all-rounder, who has now cemented his spot in a Barbados side that features a number of spinners, including fellow CricX star Jomel Warrican, is looking to impress with whatever side he joins moving forward.
For the 2024 season, Holder is set to venture abroad having signed with Oxford Downs for their Home Counties Premier League campaign.