WI has realistic chance of finishing in top 4 in ICC Test C'ship: Holder

West Indies skipper Jason Holder believes his side is capable of finishing in top four of World Test Championship in two years' time. Currently ranked eighth in ICC Test team rankings, West Indies tched up a nine-wicket victory over Afghanistan in ir one-off Test here on Friday and Holder said it is a realistic target for his team to end inside top 5 in World Test Championship. "I think by end of Test Championship, I don't see it being impossible for us to be fourth or fifth in world," Holder was quoted as saying by ICC. "That would be a significant achievement in a two-year period. We've got some tough series coming up: we've got England, n South Africa coming to Caribbean, n we've got New Zealand -- all good cricket sides. "But I don't think it's beyond us to beat m. We've just got to make sure we keep building and developing. Once we do that, we can compete with any side in world. A realistic target in two years would be to be ranked three or four in world," he added.

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Afghanistan Test was t a part of World Test Championship but Holder believes experience will help m improve.  skipper heaped praise on spinners for playing a pivotal role, especially Rahkeem Cornwall, who returned with a ten-wicket haul in only his second Test. "We did expect spinners to play a heavy role in this game, but with new ball we probably expected a little more from fast bowlers. As ball got older, I felt it did a little bit more. ir openers played well and pretty much saw off new ball," Holder said. "Our spinners really came into effect with harder ball, so I think it all worked out way it was supposed to. Credit to Rahkeem (Cornwall). He bowled an exceptional spell in first innings and n backed it up really well in second innings, supported well by or bowlers."

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West Indies could man only 277 in ir first innings with Sharmarh Brook scoring his maiden Test ton and Holder said it is important that batsmen take up more responsibility to put teams under pressure with big first-innings scores. "I've said it in last couple of series we've played: more responsibility needs to be taken by our batters. We've shown glimpses of brilliance, which is all well and good, but consistency is name of game," he said. "In order to be a world-class team, you have to be consistent with your batting. You have to get 20 wickets of course, but you have to set it up with bat. First innings count for a lot. If we can put teams under pressure with our first-innings scores, more often than t, West Indies will be up re among top-ranked sides in world." 

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