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Jason Holder has retired from ODI cricket, and the news came out in the strangest way possible. West Indies head coach Daren Sammy revealed the Jason Holder retirement almost in passing during an appearance on the Wisden Cricket podcast on Friday, confirming that the former captain’s 50 over career is over while making clear he remains in the frame for Test cricket.
There has been no announcement from Holder himself. No social media post, no press conference, no statement from Cricket West Indies. As things stand, Sammy’s podcast comments are the only public confirmation that one of the finest all rounders of his generation has walked away from a format he once captained at two World Cups.
What Daren Sammy Said About Jason Holder
Sammy was asked whether Holder was still in West Indies’ plans across formats, and his answer settled the ODI question for good.
“Yes, Jason is still in the mix for Test. I know he’s retired from ODI cricket. Test cricket for sure. He has spoken about his interest, but obviously, you know, he’s a franchise player as well… it’s us talking about availability, where he fits. But yeah, he’s made clear that he’s still interested in Test cricket. So once that fits with his schedule and obviously the plans that we have, I’m pretty sure that will happen,” Sammy said.
The coach also pointed to Justin Greaves as the man who has quietly filled the gap. “In the meantime, Justin has really made that all rounder role very useful for us with bat and ball and catching as well,” he added. Greaves is in the West Indies squad for the ODI series against New Zealand that starts this weekend.
Jason Holder’s ODI Career In Numbers
| Format | Matches | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| ODIs | 138 | 2,237 | 159 |
| Tests | 69 | 3,073 | 162 |
Jason Holder ODI career at a glance:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Debut | February 1, 2013 vs Australia, Perth |
| Last match | 2023 World Cup Qualifiers |
| Matches | 138 |
| Runs | 2,237 |
| Half centuries | 12 |
| Wickets | 159 |
| Captaincy | 2015 to 2019, including the 2015 and 2019 World Cups |
Holder made his debut against Australia in Perth in February 2013 and was handed the ODI captaincy in 2015 at the age of 23, making him the youngest captain in West Indies history.
He led West Indies at the 2015 World Cup, where they reached the quarter finals, and again at the 2019 World Cup. Along the way he became the first West Indies captain to take 100 ODI wickets, and the fastest West Indies player ever to complete the double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in the format, getting there in just 74 matches.
His last appearance in ODI cricket came at the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers, where he scored 144 runs and took six wickets in a campaign that still ended with West Indies missing the World Cup for the first time. He never played another ODI after that, so the retirement formalises what the selectors’ choices had already suggested for nearly three years.
Will Jason Holder Play Test Cricket Again?
The Test door remains open, at least in theory. Holder has not played a Test since August 2024, but he said as recently as September 2025 that he wants to play the longest format again, and Sammy called him “our frontline all rounder” in the same podcast.
His Test record explains why. In 69 Tests, Holder has scored 3,073 runs and taken 162 wickets, and he is the only West Indies cricketer apart from Sir Garfield Sobers to combine 3,000 runs with 150 wickets in the format. His unbeaten 202 against England in 2019 remains one of the great modern West Indies innings, and he was the world’s number one ranked Test all rounder that same year.
The complication is style. West Indies have leaned towards out and out fast bowlers in recent Test selections, with raw pace preferred over Holder’s accuracy and bounce, which is why his strong white ball form has not translated into a Test recall.
Holder Is In The Form Of His Life Everywhere Else
The oddest part of the Jason Holder retirement is the timing, because the 34 year old is playing some of the best white ball cricket of his career. He was one of West Indies’ standout performers at the 2026 T20 World Cup, scoring 141 runs at a strike rate of 175 and taking 10 wickets, and he became the first West Indies bowler to reach 100 T20I wickets during the tournament.
He is currently captaining the Los Angeles Knight Riders in Major League Cricket, where he has just led them to back to back wins over Washington Freedom and the table topping San Francisco Unicorns, and he recently drew level with Lasith Malinga in joint fifth place for the most four wicket hauls in T20 cricket. Gujarat Titans paid big money for him at the IPL 2026 auction. In T20 cricket, nobody is moving on from Jason Holder.
Jason Holder Career Milestones
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Youngest ODI captain in West Indies history at 23, led the 2015 World Cup campaign |
| 2016 | Part of the West Indies squad that won the T20 World Cup |
| 2018 | Fastest West Indies player to 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in ODIs (74 matches) |
| 2019 | First West Indies captain to take 100 ODI wickets, ranked the world’s number one Test all rounder, and scored 202 not out against England |
| 2021 | Named one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year |
| 2022 | First West Indies man to take a T20I hat trick, with four wickets in four balls against England |
| 2026 | First West Indies bowler to reach 100 T20I wickets, at the T20 World Cup |
What The Retirement Means For The 2027 World Cup
West Indies begin their ODI series against New Zealand this weekend with the 2027 World Cup in South Africa as the stated target, and Sammy has repeatedly called every series between now and then a must win. Holder’s retirement removes the most experienced seam bowling all rounder in the Caribbean from that plan.
His skill set would have suited South African conditions, with his height, bounce and lower order hitting, and the pipeline behind him is thin. Greaves has done the job in recent series, and Sammy clearly trusts him, but replacing a man with 159 ODI wickets and more than 2,000 runs is not a selection decision. It is a rebuilding project.
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FAQs
Q. Has Jason Holder retired from cricket?
A. No. Jason Holder has retired only from ODI cricket, as revealed by West Indies head coach Daren Sammy. He continues to play T20 cricket around the world and remains interested in Test cricket.
Q. Who confirmed the Jason Holder retirement?
A. West Indies head coach Daren Sammy confirmed it on the Wisden Cricket podcast. Holder himself has not made any public announcement about the decision.
Q. When did Jason Holder play his last ODI?
A. Holder last played ODI cricket at the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers, where he scored 144 runs and took six wickets. He never featured in the format again.
Q. What are Jason Holder’s ODI career stats?
A. Holder played 138 ODIs for West Indies, scoring 2,237 runs with 12 half centuries and taking 159 wickets. He captained West Indies at the 2015 and 2019 World Cups.
Q. Will Jason Holder play Test cricket again?
A. Daren Sammy said Holder is “still in the mix” for Tests and called him the team’s frontline all rounder, though a recall depends on his franchise schedule and West Indies’ selection plans. Holder has not played a Test since August 2024.