Durham has secured the services of West Indies pacer Chemar Holder for their last three games of the County Championship season. Holder, who has represented the West Indies in both Test and ODI formats, will be available for Durham’s match against Lancashire starting on Monday at Chester-le-Street. He replaces New Zealand’s Neil Wagner, whose season was cut short due to injury.
Marcus North, Durham’s director of cricket, expressed his excitement over the signing, describing Holder as a tall and dynamic fast bowler who brings a unique element to the team's bowling attack. North highlighted the importance of adding another seamer to the squad, given the combination of international call-ups and injuries that have impacted Durham’s options.
Holder made his Test debut in 2020 after performing strongly in domestic first-class cricket and previously had a stint with Warwickshire in the County Championship. After undergoing shoulder surgery and spending over a year out of the game, he was awarded a franchise contract by Cricket West Indies (CWI) earlier this year to keep him in the pool of fast bowlers for the national team.
Speaking about the opportunity, Holder said he is thrilled to be joining Durham and returning to county cricket for a second time. He stated that whenever he steps onto the field, he gives his all and plans to do the same for Durham in the upcoming matches. He is eager to contribute to the team’s performance and looks forward to making an impact if selected.
Currently, Durham sits in seventh place in Division One of the County Championship, 24 points ahead of Lancashire, who are second from the bottom.