By Neto Baptiste
West Indies Under-19 wicketkeeper-batter, Jewel Andrew, is excited as he prepares to join the Leeward Islands Hurricanes for the remainder of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Four Day Championships.
The Antiguan was the top batsman for the West Indies after he amassed 207 runs in five matches during the ICC Under-19 World Cup held in South Africa, and was recently invited to join the sub-regional franchise ahead of their clash against the Guyana Harpy Eagles starting February 14.
“The expectations are skyrocketing by the minute, so it’s just for me to go and do my best and that’s all. I think [playing the CWI Super 50] was a great experience and I learnt a lot, especially from the players and the, so it’s just to take in all of the information and just try to bring it into my game,” he said.
Andrew made a highest of 130 against hosts South Africa in the tournament’s opening match before the wicketkeeper-batter stroked a match-winning unbeaten 64 in the West Indies’ successful run chase against Scotland. He also collected five catches and a stumping in a standout role behind the stumps.
Speaking on his 130, Andrew said it’s an experience he will always remember.
“It is something I would cherish forever but I didn’t expect to make it, to be honest, because at that point my nerves were on like 150, but after facing the first 20 balls I was like, yeah, I really can do this. I was just thinking of the innings other players played, like the senior guys, and I was thinking about Shai Hope at that time and how he brought home the game against England; so that was my inspiration at the time,” the player said.
Seventeen-year-old Andrew, a fifth form student at the Antigua Grammar School (AGS), thanked his teachers for supporting his endeavours.
“I just try to manage my time,” he said. “So, if I know I don’t have training or a game, then I would put a few hours into [school work] because I can always catch up in the end. But I think [the teachers] help me more than I help myself; like sending my work online and having face-to-face classes with me and that really helps me,” he shared.
Andrew returned to Antigua last week to a hero’s welcome at the VC Bird International Airport.