Bridgetown (Barbados), Sep 17 (IANS): West Indies Test captain Jason Holder says he used the break from international cricket during the summer to recharge himself and is now looking forward to performing at his optimum on the upcoming tours.

The regional side have had a busy itinerary this year starting with the tour of South Africa followed by the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, reports CMC.

The West Indies then returned home to host England in three Tests and Australia in two, before most of the players went on to represent their respective franchises in the Caribbean Premier League.

Holder said it was important that players took as much rest as possible in between tours.

"International cricket could be very tiring (and) a lot of people don’t understand the travelling,” he said.

“The travelling takes a lot out of the body and it is kind of mentally draining at times. I try to take my breaks when possible. Anytime I get a chance to just put up my feet, I put up my feet."

“Obviously we just had some time off in these last month and a half or so, so I’ve been away from cricket. I took some time off, spent some time with my friends and family and just tried to refresh and come back stronger for this tour.”

The West Indies will assemble here on September 20 to prepare for next month’s tour of Sri Lanka, which runs from October 8 to November 14. The regional side are scheduled to play two Tests, three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and two Twenty20s.

That tour will be followed by a tough tour Down Under where they clash with the Australians in three Tests from December 10 to January 7.

Holder reiterated that with the busy nature of the international schedule, players needed to capitalise on down time to enhance performance.

"I think it is very, very, very crucial that we actually take these breaks and these rest periods when they actually come up because the international schedule is pretty hectic so that’s something I endorse in a sense where I just try to take my break when I see fit."