Grenadian coach and administrator Raphael Croney is confident in the abilities of the West Indies team ahead of their participation in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Namibia and Zimbabwe, which starts this month.
Croney is the second vice president of the Grenada Cricket Association and an active coach who recently commentated on a youth One Day International between the Boys in Maroon and England.
The West Indies Under‑19s played a seven‑match ODI series against England Under‑19s in Grenada from November 16 to December 1, 2025, at the Grenada National Stadium in St. George’s.
West Indies won a competitive series 5-2. In an interview with St. Lucia Times’ sports contributor Joseph Reds Perierra, Croney mentioned several players who could become standout professional players.
“We had some outstanding performers,” he said. “One can quickly go to Vitel Lawes, the Jamaican leg-spinner – orthodox; the sort of bowler that we don’t see regularly in the West Indies. But he can bowl chinaman and googly, [and] has been really one of the standouts.
“Then we had Joshua Dorne, the captain. He scored a hundred, scores of 90, and scores of 80 and 87. He had a tremendous series and I think that he played a critical role in terms of West Indies coming out on top, batting in the middle.
“[Jonathan Van Lange] played very well and I must say he and Joshua Dorne do seem to have really a good relationship batting together and they would have pulled West Indies out of some holes with huge partnerships that really turned the games around.”
Croney also praised emerging left-arm pace bowler Jakeem Pollard as one to watch because of his ability to move the ball both ways.
“I think it would be important to pull out these players that have shown tremendous talent and quickly get them into some working preparation for the next level,” he added.
