Former West Indies Under-19 captain, West Indies Academy top-order batsman, and Saint Lucia Kings player Ackeem Auguste was one of seven cricketers announced on Wednesday to take part in an innovative development programme, where the 21-year-old batsman will embark on a specialized training camp at the Chennai Super Kings Academy in India this December.
Auguste, 21, is one of four current or former West Indies Academy players, along with Teddy Bishop and Jewel Andrew, former West Indies Under-19 player Jordan Johnson, and contracted franchise players Levin Wickham, Kirk McKenzie, and Matthew Nandu, who have already thought to have shown impressive potential in regional cricket.
Auguste has hit five fifties in 34 innings in regional cricket, between First Class and List A, with a high score of 93. He has also played 15 matches for the Saint Lucia Kings, hitting 156 runs in 11 innings, including an unbeaten 35.
In Youth ODI’s, he made 205 runs in 11 innings, with a top score of 57 against Australia. Earlier this year, in an Under-23 game against St Vincent & the Grenadines, the Castries player made 208 runs, the highest individual score ever recorded at any level of cricket on the island.
Accompanied by West Indies Academy head coach Ramesh Subasinghe and assistant coach Rohan Nurse, the group departs for India this Friday ahead of the two-week intensive programme, which runs from December 1-14.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, explained that the trip is part of the regional commitment to providing opportunities for emerging players in overseas conditions. “In this case, the Chennai Academy will host these seven batsmen and aim to equip them with skills and experience in navigating spinning conditions,” he noted. “Our coaches will be on hand to ensure that the learnings in the period can be consolidated and extended to other players in the region through the academy.”
This significant investment in the future of West Indies cricket focuses on nurturing the region’s elite Under-25 talent pool.
Participants will engage in a two-day match and three white-ball fixtures as part of their specialised training at the CSK Academy, which is geared towards helping these batsmen improve their performance against spin bowling in overseas conditions where it may be prevalent.
The players will work alongside renowned coaches, including Academy Director Sriram Krishnamurthy and his expert support staff.
The initiative draws inspiration from similar successful programmes, including recent training camps undertaken by the New Zealand Test team. Beyond technical skills, the programme aims to develop players’ mental resilience and cultural awareness, essential for adapting to international cricket environments.
These players will serve as ambassadors upon their return to the region and share their experiences and insights with territorial coaches across the Caribbean.
This initiative marks the first time CWI has deployed contracted academy players for overseas training of this nature. With plans to make this an annual feature of the cricket calendar, CWI continues to demonstrate its commitment to the next generation of West Indies cricket stars.
Photo credit: ICC
