A look at the West Indies U19 at the ICC Under-19 World Cup

At the senior level, West Indies cricket often feels like a long passage where the lights flicker more than they shine. Results have been uneven, confidence fragile, and patience tested. Yet in that same tunnel, further down the track, movement has been visible. The West Indies Under-19 side at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup has offered something quietly valuable: proof of competitive life.

This has not been a flawless campaign. It has not been a dominant one. But it has been generally encouraging, marked by resilience, fight, and the emergence of players who understand that international cricket is not about moments alone but about managing pressure, pace, and expectations.

The Campaign So Far: Progress, Not Perfection

West Indies U19 advanced beyond the group stage into the Super Six, a meaningful achievement in a tournament where margins are thin, and talent is dense. Along the way, they showed an ability to reset after setbacks, respond to stronger opposition, and compete with purpose.

There were matches where execution fell short, and spells when the opposition’s quality told. But just as important were the matches where the young Windies stood their ground. They defended modest totals, pushing top-tier cricketing nations deep into contests. They adapted to rain-affected conditions and unfamiliar environments.

That matters. Tournament cricket at this level is not simply about who wins; it is also about who learns fastest while competing.

Encouraging Signs

Several themes have emerged consistently, demonstrating the functional qualities and determined spirit that can serve as the foundation for any revival.

• Batting intent with structure: The batting group showed a willingness to play positively, but with growing awareness of innings management rather than reckless acceleration.
• Bowling discipline: Particularly through controlled spells and pressure-building overs, rather than searching endlessly for miracle deliveries.
• Mental recovery: Heavy defeats did not spiral into collapse. The side regrouped, recalibrated, and responded.

These are not glamorous headlines, but they are foundational qualities for any revival.

My Top Five Rising Stars for the Future

Joshua Dorne – Leading a side at a World Cup is a test few truly understand until they carry it. Joshua Dorne has shouldered that responsibility with maturity. His contributions have often come when the team needed shape and stability rather than fireworks.

As captain, his presence is steady, his fielding standards firm, and his batting role rooted in partnership-building.

Leadership depth remains one of West Indies cricket’s most urgent needs. Dorne is demonstrating early instincts beyond his years.

Zachary Carter embodies resistance, range, and response. He best embodies the competitive backbone of this side. In situations where wickets fell early or momentum swung sharply away from West Indies, Carter shows a willingness to stay, absorb pressure, and rebuild.

His century earlier in the campaign was an innings of rescue and recalibration, constructed when stability mattered more than spectacle. Beyond volume, his range stood out: patience in defence, calm strike rotation, and the ability to expand when conditions allowed. Just as importantly, he adjusted after difficult outings, recalibrated and returned with method intact.

West Indies cricket has long struggled to convert talent into durability. Carter is learning that exchange early.

Jewel Andrew has continued to confirm his status as one of the most composed players in the squad. His batting has been defined by clarity of method rather than impulse. Entering under pressure or guiding the middle overs, he has shown soft hands, strong shot selection, and a calm reading of situations.

Behind the stumps, his growth has been equally important, managing bowlers and maintaining focus through long passages of play.

West Indies cricket continues the search for batsmen who can control the flow of the game. Andrew is developing into that mould.

R’Jai Gittens has stood out for his approach as much as his results. He has bowled with intent, attacked the stumps, and understood how to apply pressure through consistency rather than excess.  In conditions that often reward patience, he has demonstrated tactical awareness and adaptability.

Sustainable fast bowling is built on thinking bowlers. Gittens is learning that language early.

Micah McKenzie’s value has been in reliability. He has delivered repeatable spells, held lines, and supported attacking bowlers by refusing to release pressure. These are the performances that often go unnoticed in highlight reels but anchor bowling units in tournament play.

Teams rise when they develop bowlers who understand their role within a system, not just their own figures.

Depth Of the Team

Beyond my top picks, this campaign to date has revealed a layer of developing depth, players learning the disciplines that make future selection possible.

These were the quiet overs that stemmed momentum and the middle-order contributions that prevented collapse. The fielding standards did not dip even when matches drifted away. No headliner performance, yet all contributing to rebuilding something West Indies cricket has struggled with, consistent performance beyond identified talent.

That depth mattered because it functioned collectively.

If anything, this West Indies Under-19 side’s most encouraging trait has not been the sudden rise of an extra individual, but the absence of dependency on one name alone. Runs came from different hands. Pressure was absorbed by more than one pair of shoulders. Responsibility was shared rather than concentrated.

Conclusion: Light, Not Yet Daybreak

The tunnel is still dim. No one should pretend otherwise. But this Under-19 side has moved forward inside it, not backwards. They have learned through competition, demonstrated character under stress, and revealed individuals who merit continued tracking, support, and structured progression.

This is what Risin’ Star 19 is meant to capture: not hype, but signals. Signals that West Indies cricket’s next chapter is being quietly written, one disciplined spell, one measured innings, one composed decision at a time. 

That may not feel dramatic. It is not meant to be.

For a cricketing culture long conditioned to search for saviours, this represents a subtle but meaningful shift. Teams built on balance last longer than teams built on brilliance alone. At the Under-19 level, learning that lesson early is invaluable.

This campaign does not promise instant transformation for West Indies cricket. What it offers instead is evidence of habits being rebuilt: competitive, recovery, and team habits.

The tunnel remains dim. There is no pretending otherwise: this group is moving forward together.

Looking forward to the remaining matches of the Super 6 with tremendous optimism.