Jewel ready to shine

As the West Indies Under-19 squad prepares to depart Barbados on Tuesday for the International Cricket Council U19 World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia, all eyes are fixed on one young man who already carries the weight of expectation and the glow of experience, Antigua and Barbuda's Jewel Andrew.

At just 19 years old, Andrew is no ordinary youth cricketer. Set to feature in his second consecutive U19 World Cup, he arrives as the crowned jewel of a squad hoping to make a deep run in the global showpiece.

What sets him apart is a resume' that reads like that of a seasoned pro - three One Day Internationals and five T20 Internationals for the West Indies senior team, a first-class century, and a List A hundred already etched into his young career.

Call him a veteran at this level if you will, but one thing the young man is keen on doing is keeping a level head and not getting ahead of himself as he prepares to go up against some of the best youth cricketers in the world.

"This past calendar year was a roller-coaster ride for me," Andrew said, reflecting ahead of the team's departure. "Every tournament, and I would say game, brought a new challenge. I learned a lot this year (2025) on and off the field, and it's just for me to now transfer it into the new year and hopefully get some performances."

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Drawn in Group D alongside South Africa, Afghanistan, and Tanzania, the Young Windies begin their campaign against Tanzania in Windhoek on January 15.

Andrew is expected to play a pivotal senior role within the squad, both as a performer and a leader.

"My role in this team is fairly simple, and that is to feed information to the other players and learn from them, and contribute in any way I can, both on and off the field."

Having shared dressing rooms with senior West Indies stars, Andrew values the experience gained.

However, he knows all too well that he is not the only talent on the regional youth side.

"I know they are great players, and, just playing together, seeing them perform was great to see. It's just to build on what we have already done and now go into the tournament and keep showing performances."

For Andrew, this World Cup carries profound personal significance.

"Playing in a World Cup was something I always dreamed of, but, for me, this is the tournament that gave me everything so far. It really means something to me, and hopefully I can just go out and do my best and also transfer knowledge to the other players."

In a group featuring the formidable sides of South Africa and Afghanistan, his experience could be the stabilising force for a talented but less-tested cohort.