Ackeem Auguste hopes his performance with the bat last weekend offers a foundation for better things as the West Indies Academy look to bounce back in their second four-day clash against Sri Lanka Emerging Players.
The 21-year-old Saint Lucian left-hander shone with scores of 41 and 82 in a losing effort at Coolidge Cricket Ground, displaying the kind of application and intent that could serve him well in the future. Though the Academy fell short by 75 runs, Auguste’s counterattacking 82 off 95 balls in the second innings hinted at a player ready to turn promise into consistent returns.
The home team, chasing 297 for victory in the second innings, were bowled out for 222 in 50.5 overs.
“It’s a start,” Auguste told St Lucia Times, balancing pride with self-criticism after narrowly missing a match-winning knock. “I was unfortunate to miss out on the opportunity to take it home for the team, but grateful nonetheless.
“I just looked to play what I saw. The team has adopted a more positive brand of cricket including myself, so that really helped in constantly looking to score off every ball.”
His approach bore the fingerprints of lessons learned during a December 2024 training stint at the Chennai Super Kings Academy, where he honed his technique against spin, a skill that proved vital against Sri Lanka’s trio of slow bowlers. Though his returns in this year’s Cricket West Indies Championship were modest (287 runs, one fifty), Auguste insists his preparation has prepared him for growth.
“It was just an extension of what we learnt,” he said of the Antigua match. “I may not have had the first-class season I would have liked, but I still trust my preparation. And I think that allowed me to take a more positive approach towards the bowlers because I know I’ve practised different shots a number of times.”
That self-assurance was evident as he anchored the Academy’s chase, though a late collapse with the fall of six wickets for 39 runs undid his efforts. Still, Auguste’s talent is no secret: he holds Saint Lucia’s record highest score – 308 vs Dominica U23 – and was part of the Saint Lucia Kings’ maiden CPL title-winning squad. Now, he’s determined to ensure last week’s display is a springboard.
With the second match looming this weekend, the Academy will hope Auguste’s display in match one was no standalone highlight.
