Jewel Andrew became the youngest-ever Caribbean Premier League (CPL) debutant last week, playing for Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in the opening match of the 2024 season. Here’s all you need to know about the talented youngster.
When the newly-introduced franchise Antigua and Barbuda Falcons played St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the first match of CPL this year, Andrew, 17, became the youngest player in the tournament’s history. He beat Nicholas Pooran, who debuted at the age of 17 years and 300 days.
Andrew didn’t take time to get things started, scoring an unbeaten 30-ball 50 at No.5 to take his team to a competitive 163-4. Though the match, which was decided off the last ball, didn't go in SKNP’s favour, Andrew’s enterprising knock was positive for the Falcons. In the process, he became the second-youngest to score a fifty in a major T20 tournament, at 17 years and 266 days, second to Riyan Parag, who achieved the feat for IPL side Rajasthan Royals, at 17 years and 175 days.
That he can keep wicket gives the Falcons additional flexibility with team combinations. After a quiet outing against Guyana Amazon Warriors, Andrew scored 48 from 35 balls against Barbados Royals.
Nicholas Pooran smashed nine sixes in his brutal knock of 97 (43) in the CPL last night 💥
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) September 1, 2024
It saw him set a new world record, overtaking Chris Gayle ➡️ https://t.co/d1w8Td4oCW#CPL2024 pic.twitter.com/4qzxrNb5og
Success in formative years paying rich dividends
Andrew being an instant hit in the CPL shouldn’t come as a surprise. His success came after years of graft in age-group cricket. The right-hand batter impressed with five successive hundreds in a schools’ league match and captained the Leeward Islands Under-15 team.
He shot to fame in the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa earlier this year, where he was the highest run-getter for the West Indies, with 207 runs at an average of 69 and a strike-rate of 109.52.
Additionally, having impressed in the Cool & Smooth T20 tournament in Antigua and Barbuda before the World Cup, with 323 runs in nine innings, at 40.38 and 110.62, Andrew was always on the radar of the CPL scouts.
Andrew among few bright spots in Falcons' dismal start
After impressing on his debut, the talented youngster returned with a run-a-ball 10 against Guyana Amazon Warriors in the second match. However, he was quick to turn things around. Against Barbados Royals, the Falcons were teetering at 4-47 in 7.3 overs. Andrew got in and scored a 35-ball 48 to take his side to 145-9, giving them something to fight for.
Though the Falcons didn’t have the likeliest of starts, losing all their first three matches, Andrew, touted to be a breakout star this season, has continued to deliver. And that’s a rare bright spot for the tournament debutants.
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