West Indies left-arm spinner Vitel Lawes has emerged as one of the standout performers of the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup, earning selection to the tournament’s Team of the Tournament following a series of impactful displays with ball and bat.
The 18-year-old Jamaican was the sole West Indies representative in the elite 12-member squad, a distinction that underlined both his consistency and his influence across the competition.
Consistency through every phase
Despite the West Indies’ campaign ending at the Super Six stage, Lawes’ performances remained a constant bright spot. Across five matches, he claimed 10 wickets at an average of 22, leading his team’s bowling attack and repeatedly providing breakthroughs in key moments.
His ability to deliver control, variation, and composure against top-level youth opposition set him apart in a tightly contested tournament.
Lawes announced his arrival in emphatic fashion in the West Indies’ opening match against Tanzania. Bowling with precision and discipline, he returned figures of three for 23 from six overs, playing a central role in a comfortable five-wicket victory.
The performance immediately positioned him as a bowler to watch and set the tone for the remainder of his campaign.
Leading the attack versus Afghanistan
In the following encounter against Afghanistan, Lawes once again carried the bowling load for the West Indies. He finished as the team’s most effective bowler, collecting three wickets for 48 runs from 10 overs in a demanding spell that tested both stamina and skill.
Lawes’ contributions were not limited to his left-arm spin. In the opening Super Six match against Ireland, he delivered a valuable all-round effort, scoring an unbeaten 18 off 10 balls to add late momentum to the innings before returning to claim two crucial wickets with the ball.
The performance highlighted his growing versatility and ability to impact matches in multiple disciplines.
Elite company in the team of the tournament
Lawes joins a distinguished group of young internationals in the ICC’s Team of the Tournament. India led the selections with three players, joined by three from England and two from Afghanistan.
England’s Thomas Rew, who amassed 330 runs at an average of exactly 66, was named captain of the side.
Thomas Rew (England, captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (India), Viran Chamuditha (Sri Lanka), Faisal Khan Shinozada (Afghanistan), Oliver Peake (Australia), Ben Mayes (England), Kanishk Chouhan (India), Nooristani Omarzai (Afghanistan), Vitel Lawes (West Indies), Ali Raza (Pakistan), Manny Lumsden (England), Henil Patel (India).
