Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Of Athanaze, other young batters and pacers
In this file photo, Windward Islands Volcanoes batsman Alick Athanaze (left) plays through the off-side as Barbados Pride wicketkeeper Tevyn Walcott reacts during a Super50 final at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua on Saturday, February 24, 2018. (Photo: CWI Media)
Cricket, Sports
February 23, 2023

Of Athanaze, other young batters and pacers

Given the fragility of West Indian batting, it is not unreasonable to ask what has taken the 24-year-old Dominican Alick Athanaze so long.

When the diminutive teenager announced himself to the world at the 2018 Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand, the only question was when he would be considered ready for Test cricket. Not if.

Back then he topped the tournament’s batting aggregate with 418 runs in six innings at the jaw-dropping average of 104.50. As it turned out the West Indies were relegated to the Plate Final, losing to Sri Lanka at that stage, with India triumphant as Under-19 World champions.

Those trailing Athanaze in terms of aggregate at that Under-19 tournament included current Indian stars Shubman Gill and Prithvi Shaw, and the name now on every lip in English cricket, Harry Brook.

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has to take part of the blame for slowing Athanaze’s progress, especially since the accursed sickness prevented regional cricket in 2021.

But perhaps the primary reason is the chronic shortage of resources which limits the nurturing of talented, young Caribbean cricketers.

Leading into the first two rounds of the 2023 regional four-day tournament in early February, the elegant Athanaze, who bats left handed, was averaging only about 27. That reflected a frustrating tendency to make pretty 20s and 30s before getting himself out.

But after scoring 241 runs in four innings, including 141 — his maiden first-class century — in the first two rounds of the four-day championship, everything changed for Athanaze. Lead selector Desmond Haynes and his panel promptly picked him for the Test series in South Africa.

Since there will only be two Test matches — the first scheduled to start Tuesday — Athanaze may well miss out in South Africa. But if he stays fit and ready, I don’t expect him to wait for much longer.

The man to make way for Athanaze is 34-year-old Jamaican, Nkrumah Bonner. His spot came into question primarily because of a seeming vulnerability to fast, rising deliveries. This, after he was hit and concussed out of Test cricket twice since 2021. It always seemed likely that the selectors would be hesitant to take Bonner to South Africa.

Readers should bear in mind that the South Africans are blessed with a high class pace attack, including the fearsome Anrich Nortje to whom Bonner first fell victim to concussion after being hit on the helmet 20 months ago.

Why then take him to Zimbabwe the other day? Surely, it would’ve made more sense to ask Bonner to sort himself out in regional cricket — which, as I understand it, is what they are now asking him to do.

Whatever the reasoning, hopefully it was properly explained to Bonner.

The latter, like others on the wrong side of 30 — including Darren Bravo who stirred interest with twin hundreds for Trinidad and Tobago Red Force against Leeward Islands Hurricanes — will have taken note of young bright sparks who showed up in the regional tournament.

Among those was St Lucian Kimani Melius, a tall, nonchalantly dominant 22-year-old right hander. He hit 192 for Windward Islands Volcanoes — his maiden first-class century — against the Red Force. Melius was a teammate of Athanaze in the 2018 West Indies Under-19 team and the age-group captain in early 2020, just before COVID-19.

Matthew Nandu, a 19-year-old Guyanese left-handed opener with a rock-solid defensive technique, jumped the queue by stroking 126 on first-class debut against Barbados Pride. Nandu was part of the West Indies Under-19s in the Caribbean a year ago.

There were also intriguing performances from bowlers — more particularly the fast men to whom I am particularly biased — in the two four-day regional championship games which cricket watchers were able to follow on YouTube livestream.

Akeem Jordan, the 28-year-old Barbadian, has played just five first-class games but his control and skill — very much on show in his seven-wicket match haul against Jamaica Scorpions — was obviously pivotal in the selectors going with him for the South African tour. Jordan got his chance because of injuries to Jayden Seales and Anderson Phillip.

It can be argued that Marquino Mindley, who was called up for Australia at short notice late last year following a spate of injuries, should have had the nod ahead of Jordan. Just a day after arrival in Australia, Mindley found himself in the team for the second Test. That was clearly not good preparation for a Test match. To me, it came as no surprise that he promptly broke down.

Back to full fitness, the Jamaican bowled well in the two four-day championship matches, though with only moderate success.

Me? I am all for selectors having the confidence to follow their gut and make the big calls such as the choice of Jordan ahead of Mindley.

There were other fast bowlers who grabbed my attention earlier this month thanks to the livestream — among them a big, strong, 26-year-old Barbadian Jair McAllister who seemed to be hurrying the batters.

From a purely Jamaican perspective, there is plenty of talk locally that Ojay Shields, who made his first class debut against Barbados Pride in a losing cause, is excitingly quick. I look forward to seeing for myself from the boundary’s edge, soon.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Rose Heights Community Centre selected as St James’ Labour Day Project
Latest News, News
Rose Heights Community Centre selected as St James’ Labour Day Project
May 20, 2026
ST JAMES, Jamaica —The St James Municipal Corporation has selected the Rose Heights Community Centre as the parish’s 2026 Labour Day Project. Labour D...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
DR Congo Ebola risk high regionally, low worldwide, says WHO
Latest News, News
DR Congo Ebola risk high regionally, low worldwide, says WHO
May 20, 2026
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The risk from a deadly Ebola outbreak in central Africa remains high, but remains low globally, the World Health Organizat...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Speaker Holness participating in ParlAmericas Assembly in Canada
Latest News, News
Speaker Holness participating in ParlAmericas Assembly in Canada
May 20, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Speaker of the House of Representatives, Juliet Holness is currently on a working visit to Canada where she is participating in th...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Uruguayan energy expert to share insights at Maurice Facey Lecture
Latest News, News
Uruguayan energy expert to share insights at Maurice Facey Lecture
May 20, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Internationally acclaimed energy transition expert Dr Ramón Méndez Galain, widely recognised for leading Uruguay’s groundbreaking ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
UN agency warns Hormuz block could trigger global food crisis
International News, Latest News
UN agency warns Hormuz block could trigger global food crisis
May 20, 2026
ROME, Italy (AFP) — The United Nation (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned Wednesday that the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz could "t...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
IRS will not pursue Trump for back taxes under settlement agreement
International News, Latest News
IRS will not pursue Trump for back taxes under settlement agreement
May 20, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States (US) Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will not pursue President Donald Trump, his family or companie...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
PAHO, Google join forces to expand access to health info across Americas
Latest News, Regional
PAHO, Google join forces to expand access to health info across Americas
May 20, 2026
WASHINGTON, (CMC) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says it has signed a five-year framework agreement with Google LLC to collaborate on s...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
EU says Ebola infection risk in Europe remains ‘very low’
International News, Latest News
EU says Ebola infection risk in Europe remains ‘very low’
May 20, 2026
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — The risk of an Ebola outbreak in the European Union (EU) is "very low" and "there is no indication" that Europeans need to t...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct