Teen sensation Vitel Lawes earns first West Indies ODI call-up for New Zealand series
Key Points(5)
- Nineteen-year-old Jamaican wrist spinner Vitel Lawes is on the verge of realizing a lifelong ambition after being named in the West Indies squad for the opening three One-Day Internationals against New Zealand, placing him in contention for his senior international debut.
- Lawes headlines a 15-member squad selected for the five-match series, with the first three contests scheduled to be played this month in Guyana.
- The promising leg-spinner has spent recent weeks training alongside the senior squad during the team's preparation camp ahead of the home series against Sri Lanka, and his continued development has now been rewarded with a place among the Caribbean's elite.
- Stellar Youth World Cup displays open the door Lawes arrives in the senior setup after an impressive campaign at this year's ICC Under-19 Men's World Cup, where he claimed 10 wickets and established himself as one of the competition's premier bowlers.
- His performances earned him a place in the prestigious Team of the Tournament , further strengthening his reputation as one of the region's brightest young spin prospects.
Nineteen-year-old Jamaican wrist spinner Vitel Lawes is on the verge of realizing a lifelong ambition after being named in the West Indies squad for the opening three One-Day Internationals against New Zealand, placing him in contention for his senior international debut.
Lawes headlines a 15-member squad selected for the five-match series, with the first three contests scheduled to be played this month in Guyana.
The promising leg-spinner has spent recent weeks training alongside the senior squad during the team's preparation camp ahead of the home series against Sri Lanka, and his continued development has now been rewarded with a place among the Caribbean's elite.
Stellar Youth World Cup displays open the door
Lawes arrives in the senior setup after an impressive campaign at this year's ICC Under-19 Men's World Cup, where he claimed 10 wickets and established himself as one of the competition's premier bowlers.
His performances earned him a place in the prestigious Team of the Tournament, further strengthening his reputation as one of the region's brightest young spin prospects.
West Indies Head Coach Daren Sammy said the teenager's inclusion reflects the team's long-term planning rather than a short-term experiment.
"The inclusion of Vitel Lawes is strategic as we continue our long-term vision of exposing players who can complement the team in conditions that best suit their skill sets," Sammy said.
World Cup qualification race raises the stakes
Beyond introducing emerging talent, the series carries enormous significance for the West Indies' qualification hopes for the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.
Currently sitting 10th in the ODI rankings with 73 qualification points, the Caribbean side trails Bangladesh by 11 points for the final automatic qualification position.
Sammy emphasized that every remaining ODI series has effectively become a must-win assignment.
"Every series we play from here on leading up to the 50 Over World Cup, we view them as must-win scenarios. The matches against New Zealand provide the best opportunity for us to continue our improvement as an ODI unit while winning more matches for the people of the Caribbean," he said.
Squad adjustments as Hetmyer, Springer miss out
The West Indies will be without two familiar faces for the opening phase of the series.
Explosive batter Shimron Hetmyer was granted a pre-approved No Objection Certificate (NOC) to honor his commitments in Major League Cricket, while all-rounder Shamar Springer withdrew from selection following the passing of his mother.
All-rounder Keemo Paul has been called into the squad as Springer's replacement.
Hope to lead experienced core
Captain Shai Hope will marshal a squad that blends established international performers with emerging talent.
Joining Hope are Ackeem Auguste, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Vitel Lawes, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, and Jayden Seales.
The coaching staff remains headed by Sammy, with Rawl Lewis serving as team manager. The support staff also includes batting coach Floyd Reifer, bowling coach Ravi Rampaul, fielding coach Rayon Griffith, spin bowling coach Nikita Miller, physiotherapist Dr. Denis Byam, strength and conditioning coach Darc Browne, performance analyst Avenesh Seetaram, and content and media officer Jerome Foster.
Providence to host opening three matches
The first three One-Day Internationals will all be played at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence.
The series opens on July 11, followed by the second ODI on July 13 and the third on July 16, with each match scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. AST (1:30 p.m. Jamaica time).
For Lawes, the series offers the opportunity to cap a remarkable rise from youth cricket to the international stage. For the West Indies, it represents a pivotal step in their pursuit of automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup and the continued rebuilding of their one-day fortunes.
