When the West Indies arrive in Nottingham for their One-Day International against England in 2017, they are likely to do so under the captaincy of Jason Holder, a 23-year-old fast-bowling all-rounder without experience on his side, but with the weighty endorsement of Brian Lara ringing in his ears. 

"Clive Lloyd was not the best batsman, he was not the best bowler back in the early 70s but you could tell that a lot of the players respected him," said the legendary left-hander. 

"I hope that Jason gets the same respect from the players, and also the board.

“He finds himself in a very tough situation where there are unhappy players but if the board give him the support that he needs and he can express himself, then he can become a very successful captain.

"He's a tall, good-looking guy," added Lara.

"Nobody would have backed Clive Lloyd into a corner back in the day, looking for a fight. I don't think anyone is going to back Jason Holder into a corner.

“I think he's going to get a lot of respect from his team-mates."

Holder, who captained the men from the Caribbean in the ICC Cricket World Cup and was subsequently handed the Test reigns ahead of the forthcoming series against Sri Lanka, has also received words of encouragement from former South Africa captain Graeme Smith.

Smith got the Proteas’ big job at the age of just 22, and at a time of behind-the-scenes upheaval, before going on to lead his country for 11 years and a record 109 Tests. 

The Johannesburg-born left-hander has advised the youthful West Indian skipper to separate happenings off-the-field from business on the pitch in order to be successful in the captaincy role.

"I think he's got to understand the unique challenges within West Indies cricket," said Smith.

"From my perspective I had to do that in South African cricket also. It took me three or four years to come to terms with it.

"I think when I was 26, I had captained South Africa for four years and I only really started figuring it out then.

“I think that next period was probably my best period as captain, when I understood my team, the type of players I had, myself as a leader, and how I wanted the team to play.

"The sooner he learns his own strengths and weaknesses, the better he'll be able to lead that team.

“We all know West Indies has the unique challenges. I wish him all the best but we all know it's not going to be easy.

"You've got to separate the two," Smith added of a captain’s responsibility to dealing with off-field politics alongside events on the field.

"You have to understand and manage that space as well as possible outside, but if you can protect that environment, you can get those players playing for you and get the most out of them.

"The minute the two environments leak [into each other], when there's a lot of politics, it's tough.

“He's got to find a way of galvanising that environment, and create a culture within that team space where the players want to play for him, want to do well, and separate the two in many ways.”

When the West Indies last visited Trent Bridge back in 2012, they did so under the captaincy of a certain Darren Sammy, the big-hitting all-rounder who has since become a limited-overs globetrotter, including a short spell with Notts Outlaws in 2015.

The big St Lucian has also been on record offering words of encouragement to Holder, albeit suggesting that the power of prayer could be the new captain’s closest ally.

"You just need that spark and we as a group have got to carry him through,” said Sammy.

“He’s young, he didn’t ask to be put in that situation and as one who has been in that situation, I know what that feels like.

“I will try my best to help him along and also encourage the team to help him along because captaining the West Indies is a very, very tough job.

"At least now Jason has the backing of the guys in the dressing room, the senior players want to see him do well.

“It’s very tough, I don’t know what’s going on in his mind but from what I’ve seen he’s a strong character, a strong individual.

“Stay strong and pray to the man above,” Sammy added. “He controls all things. If you’re feeling down, you whisper a prayer to him.”

With his nation having never won a Test series in Sri Lanka despite four previous attempts, divine intervention could be a most welcome to the Windies' armoury.

 

Trent Bridge will host England's One-Day Internationals against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 2016. Sign up here to be the first to hear about fixture and ticketing information for these two matches.