ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Akeem Auguste was around four years old the first time he stood at a crease, his father the bowler, soon to discover a sport that would come to define his life.
By age twelve, his love for the game was accompanied by a desire for excellence, but when the young Saint Lucian was not selected for the Windward Islands’ Under 15 side, he decided from that point he would never be passed over for any team ever again.
“I didn’t get selected and from then on, I never wanted to get that feeling again of being left out of a team. I started to train a little harder and be more intentional with the things I was working on,” he admitted.
Ackeem Auguste, Kevin Wickham and Kirk Mckenzie are three young and consistent batters that have a bright future in the sport, if they remain focussed. I salute you all, keep it up!
I am afraid that both Alick and maybe even Hodge may NOT be selected in the test squad this year, 2026, because they have not been scoring.
Hodge has a slightly better chance than Alick because of his century in the last test series, but both batters have been shameless failures thus far, and if they don’t make it on the test team, i wait for those who will say Darren Sammy is the problem. No, Darren Sammy will not be the problem. He has NEVEN been! When a test player is playing in our weak regional competition, he is supposed to stamp his authority with the bat, if he is a batter, and with the ball as a bowler. For 2 consecutive years, neither Alick, nor Hodge has done that. Shameless? No, it’s beyond that! How are those guys feeling to see so many players scoring 50’s and hundreds. OMG!
MEME
Continued development and success to this young and talented cricketer. Focus, concentration and good decision making are traits that separate double and triple figure makers.
Here’s hoping our very own Alick Athanaze will get back on track while Auguste and new batting sensation Kevin Wickham continue to thrive to give the West Indies a long term foundational base of a trio of century makers.