The ex-West Indies captain is hoping to be part of the three-Test series this summer, having skipped the Australia matches to play in the ILT20
Jason Holder has substantiated his desire to win a recall to the West Indies Test side by signing up for a five-match stint in the County Championship with Worcestershire.
The 32-year-old is eyeing a return in time for the England series which begins in July, having skipped the Australia Tests to play in the ILT20.
Holder has been available for Barbados in the West Indies Championship and will now grow his red-ball workload with a return to county cricket.
A former ICC world No.1 Test allrounder who captained his country 37 times in the format, he will arrive in time for Worcestershire's first match back in Division One since promotion against Warwickshire starting on Friday (April 5).
He is also available to face Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge and Kent at Canterbury, either side of home matches at Kidderminster with Durham and Somerset.
The allrounder turned down a central contract and missed the Australia Tests over the winter (MONEY SHARMA/AFP via Getty Images)
Winter flooding has meant New Road is out of action until the May visit of Notts at the earliest.
This will be Holder's second spell in county cricket having played two Championship and five One-Day Cup matches for Northamptonshire in 2019.
The chief motivation appears to be around convincing the West Indies selectors that he is committed to Test cricket in the wake of turning down a central contact and missing the drawn Australia series to play in the United Arab Emirates.
"By no means is this me turning my back on Test cricket," Holder told ESPNcricinfo in December. He added: "I will do everything possible to make myself eligible for those Test series (against Englan and South Africa) and have spoken to the coach and selectors to reiterate that. That will include playing first-class cricket in the West Indies Championship - and, after going unsold in Tuesday's IPL auction, potentially in England's County Championship."
Holder returns to county cricket for the first time since 2019 (David Rogers/Getty Images)
He joins an overseas intake at Worcestershire which includes New Zealander Nathan Smith, Usama Mir for the T20 Blast and SACA graduate Yadvinder Singh, who is waiting to obtain a British passport.
"I always enjoy my time in England and I'm looking forward to helping Worcestershire get off to a good start to life in Division One of the County Championship," he said upon the deal being confirmed.
"I know Worcestershire have had strong links with the West Indies in terms of players playing for them over many years and I hope I can make my mark over the five games.
"When you get promoted, if you can make a decent start it gives you that confidence and belief to build upon for the rest of the season.
"You speak to people on the circuit and they said Worcestershire have a tight-knit but friendly dressing room and I'm looking forward to playing my part on and off the field."
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