Wicketkeeper-batter Jewel Andrew has been named in West Indies' playing XI for the third ODI in Sri Lanka, making him the first 17-year-old to play for West Indies' men's team since Garry Sobers.
Sri Lanka won the first two matches of the three-ODI series in Pallekele on October 20 and 23, making the final match on Saturday (October 26) a dead rubber as far as this particular series goes.
West Indies made three changes to their playing XI – Evin Lewis came in for Alick Athanaze, Matthew Forde for Hayden Walsh and Jewel Andrew for Romario Shepherd.
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The 17-year-old Andrew has had a meteoric rise since his stellar performance in the 2024 U19 World Cup in South Africa, with the highlight of his tournament being a superb century against the tournament hosts.
He became the youngest-ever player in the Caribbean Premier League earlier this year, and scored a half-century on debut in the competition for Antigua & Barbuda Falcons.
He was rewarded with a call-up to the national team for the ODI leg of this tour, and will now become the first player aged 17 or under to represent the West Indies' men's team for 70 years.
Jewel Andrew becomes West Indies' men's first 17-year-old player since Garry Sobers
The last player to represent a senior West Indies men's team (in any format) at the age of 17 was the legendary all-rounder Garry Sobers, who debuted at the age of 17 years and 245 days on March 30, 1954 against England in Kingston. He made 14* & 26 batting at No.9 in both innings, and took 4-75 in the first innings including the wicket of opener Trevor Bailey.
Also read: Who is Jewel Andrew, the prodigal West Indies wicketkeeper-batter picked for Sri Lanka ODIs?
At 17 years and 324 days, Andrew is the third-youngest player ever to represent the West Indies men's team.
The youngest is not Sobers, but Derek Sealy, who played against England in Bridgetown on January 11, 1930 at the age of 17 years and 122 days. He scored 58 in his first innings, making him the third-youngest half-centurion in Test history.
Full list: Youngest players to play for West Indies men
| Player | Age | Format | Opposition | Venue | Match Date |
| Derek Sealy | 17y 122d | Test | England | Bridgetown | 11 Jan 1930 |
| Garry Sobers | 17y 245d | Test | England | Kingston | 30 Mar 1954 |
| Jewel Andrew | 17y 324d | ODI | Sri Lanka | Pallekele | 26 Oct 2024 |
| Robin Bynoe | 18y 31d | Test | Pakistan | Lahore | 26 Mar 1959 |
| Jeffrey Stollmeyer | 18y 105d | Test | England | Lord's | 24 Jun 1939 |
| Kraigg Brathwaite | 18y 170d | Test | Pakistan | Basseterre | 20 May 2011 |
| Alphonso Roberts | 18y 173d | Test | New Zealand | Auckland | 9 Mar 1956 |
| Alfred Scott | 18y 242d | Test | India | Kingston | 28 Mar 1953 |
| Xavier Marshall | 18y 293d | ODI | Australia | Melbourne | 14 Jan 2005 |
| Jerome Taylor | 18y 354d | ODI | Sri Lanka | Kingstown | 11 Jun 2003 |
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