Chappell slams West Indies' Holder appointment

Former Australia captain Ian Chappell has described West Indies' appointment of Jason Holder as skipper as "a monumental blunder".

With senior figures such as Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy and Dwayne Bravo no longer part of the Test set-up, Holder was given the role earlier this year.

The 24-year-old has experienced a difficult start to his tenure, going down 2-0 in Sri Lanka before a crushing defeat by an innings and 212 runs in the first Test against Australia earlier this month.

With West Indies currently performing woefully in the second Test in Melbourne - the tourists closed day two 91-6 in reply to Australia's 551-3 declared - Holder's captaincy earned the praise of coach Phil Simmons.

But Chappell pulled no punches in his criticism of the initial choice to appoint Holder to lead the side.

"One thing I'd say is you have to query the decision of the West Indies selectors to give Jason Holder the captaincy," Chappell told ESPN Cricinfo.

"Here's a guy who's trying to learn his cricket. He's a good young cricketer but to burden him with that job was, in my opinion, ridiculous in the first place.

"When you see him captain and understand that he just hasn't played enough cricket to really work out what's going on, it's a monumental blunder in my book.

"It's a situation - and I wouldn't agree with this too often, I believe you pick the XI and then you've got to pick the best guy out of that XI to captain the side.

"But in these circumstances I would be prepared to pick a guy from outside the squad - and how the hell are you going to say he's not good enough to play in this West Indies team?

"If he's a good captain, I'd be playing him and just say 'you captain the side and whatever performance you put up we'll accept it'.

"You've got Denesh Ramdin batting at six in the Test side... eight would be about the spot for him, that might be one too high.

"You've got guys who aren't really doing enough to hold down a Test place so why not pick someone who's a good captain and put him into this team?"