A-Team Series: Lots of emerging talent on show, but who is Stewart Thompson?

The teams will play three T20 matches at the Conaree Cricket Ground from November 1st to 4th, followed by five 50-overs (List A) encounters from November 7th to 16th at both Conaree and Warner Park, Basseterre.

However, when the T20 team was announced on October 25th, one thing stood out: the selection of unknown Jamaican fast bowler Stewart Thompson.

The same question crossed many lips, mine included: Who is Stewart Thompson?

According to a recent Jamaica Observer article, Thompson is a 23-year-old from Portland College, Clarendon, who has, until now, only represented his country at the U17 level.

“Though yet to play at the senior level for Jamaica, he has been catapulted into the spotlight after catching the attention of Cricket West Indies bowling consultant Ottis Gibson during a camp in Antigua earlier this year.

“Thompson first hit the CWI radar when word got around that he bowled close to 90 mph during a Senior Cup match for the Mico University College against Lucas Cricket Club. In Antigua, the right-arm speedster proved it was no fluke, surpassing the 90-mph mark.”

Thompson, who currently represents Kingston Cricket Club after graduating from Mico University with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, noted, “My strengths are my genuine love for the game and also just being a student. I am always willing to learn... I believe cricket has a strong correlation with real life, so for me, I would say my overall strength is my ability to learn and adapt to different situations.”

With Ottis Gibson serving as the A-team coach, Thompson will want to grab this opportunity with both hands, particularly as Gibson seems more like a WI team coach-in-waiting than the CWI bowling consultant.

The T20 squad comprises Athanaze (captain), Thompson, Jewel Andrew, Zachary Carter, Shadrack Descarte, Keon Gaston, Karima Gore, Joshua James, Vitel Lawes, Zishan Motara, Jakeem Pollard, Kamil Pooran, and Quentin Sampson.

Athanaze, who is primarily a fringe player with St Kitts/Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League, has represented WI in 15 T20 Internationals. Andrew, Pooran, and Sampson were part of the WI T20 team that featured in a 2-2 series draw away to India, while Gore and Motara also have T20 international experience.

Carter, Lawes, and Pollard (who, like Andrew, were part of the WI team at the 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia) were included primarily for their potential and their decent debut CPL showings this year.

The experienced Keacy Carty will be at the helm of the One-Day, 50-overs team. Having endured a tough ODI 2026 campaign, with a tally of 243 runs from eight innings at an average of 30.37, this is a key series for him.

Joining him in the One-Day team are Athanaze, Andrew, Descarte, Lawes, Pollard, Kevlon Anderson, Jediah Blades, Rivaldo Clarke, Jyd Goolie, Kirk McKenzie, Micah McKenzie, Shaqkere Parris, Shamar Springer, and Oshane Thomas.

However, Springer was named as a replacement for Keemo Paul in the Test team for the Bangladesh series, so one wonders whether Springer will be sent back to the Caribbean to face the England Lions or if he will remain in Bangladesh.

An incentive for the players involved in the One-Day series is the chance to put their names in the hat for either selection or consideration for the 2027 ICC World Cup qualifiers, which will be staged in Namibia and South Africa from February 26th to March 21st. Each one will have to make full use of their chances, as there is no Super50 Cup to fall back on, at least in 2026.

Athanaze, Andrew, Lawes, Blades, and Thomas all possess ODI experience. Anderson and Kirk McKenzie, meanwhile, have played Test cricket and will want to stake a claim for international recalls, albeit in the 50-over format.

On a final note, opening batsman Mikyle Louis has been named as a development attachment for the A-team series to help him work on his white-ball game. Louis cannot let this moment go to waste as he tries to shake off the tag as a one-season wonder. He made the Test team after an impressive 2024 domestic season but has flattered to deceive. Can he rediscover his form?