SYDNEY, Australia (CMC) — West Indies captain Jason Holder has conceded that the omission of all-rounders Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard is a major loss for the Caribbean side.

Speaking ahead of the Windies’ first official warm-up match against England today, Holder said the duo were seasoned campaigners, but was quick to point out that players selection remained the remit of selectors.

“Not having them would be a huge loss to any side, but it’s beyond our control and we have to accept it and move on,” Holder said.

“As I said before, they are two players who have done well in world of cricket. At this present day they’re not here and that’s beyond our control. So we have to accept that and move on.”

Both players were axed for the five-match series against South Africa last month and were also overlooked for the World Cup campaign.

Bravo, the most experienced all-rounder in the Caribbean, was dumped as captain and replaced by Holder.

The decision to drop Bravo and Pollard led to claims of victimisation, especially against the backdrop of the players’ roles in the abandoned tour of India last October.

With the two senior players out of the World Cup, most of the attention, as expected, has come to rest on superstar opener Chris Gayle.

The left-hander has scored a single half-century in his last 17 one-day innings and averages a measly 13 during this period.

Holder said the unit was hoping for his return to form.

“No doubt Chris is a big player for any team he’s played for. He’s been one of the most prolific bowlers for us in the last few years,” Holder noted.

“So it’s just for Chris to play himself, be his normal self and just get the best out of him.”

And the 23-year-old, in only his second series as skipper, said he did not foresee any difficulty in managing an unpredictable character like Gayle.

“I see it as just a normal thing. I’ve obviously built a relationship with some of the senior players. I’ve not been thrown into it without knowing the players. I’ve been around them for a little while now,” Holder pointed out.

“So it’s just about finding our relationship now as a captain. It’s not been that difficult thus far. Obviously, we didn’t do too well in South Africa, but we didn’t have our full strength team. Having said that, I just don’t think it’s a huge thing at the moment.

“I have a pretty good relationship with most of the guys and I’m just trying to build a relationship as a captain.”