St Lucian cricket official calls for investment in young Vincentian fast bowler

President of the Central Castries Cricket Association in St Lucia, Wayne Auguste has singled out Vincentian Under-19 fast bowler, Solomon Bascombe as someone to invest in.

Auguste’s comments to SEARCHLIGHT were made following opening games of this years CWI Regional Under-19 cricket tournament which is being played in St Vincent and the Grenadines from August 7-28.

The St Lucian, who over the years has travelled to support his son, Akeem who currently skippers the West Indies and Windwards Under-19 squads, said he wanted to gauge Bascombe’s progress since first seeing him in 2017 during the Windward Islands WINLOTT Under-15 tournament. “During that time he barely played any matches…but I observed then he was tall, very lanky…”.

“Then in 2019 I had the opportunity of observing him a lot closer when he played for the Windwards Under-17 team…”

Having seen Bascombe in matches at Arnos Vale and Cumberland against Jamaica, Auguste said, “he is very attacking as a bowler..he bowls from a high action…I think he is a young man with a lot of potential.”

The St Lucia businessman said he believes that for Bascombe to realize his true potential, “the Windward Islands should make the investment in him, get him in front of a fast-bowling coach to tighten up his action and to help him become a little steadier… If we can get him to do that he will definitely be a find for Windwards cricket and also a candidate for the West Indies Under-19. In fact, I believe he can become a dangerous bowler because of his ability to take wickets.”

Bascombe himself plans to go higher in cricket, balancing sports with academics.

He is hoping to enter Loughborough University in England where the English High Performance Centre is housed, after completing his studies at the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College.

In the three matches played so far in the CWI Under-19 Regional Tournament,Bascombe has bagged 7 wickets, his best being 4 for 47 against Jamaica.