Saint Lucian cricketers Shadrack Descarte and Keon Gaston are joining the West Indies A team this week for an eight-match white-ball series against England A, and both men are eager to make an impression on head coach Ottis Gibsobn during their time in St Kitts & Nevis.
“It is definitely a great opportunity, and I’m definitely grateful,” said Descarte, who has played 17 games in the Caribbean Premier League. “It is a step closer to where I actually see myself in the next couple of years, what I see myself achieving in my career.
“So, I’m grateful. I’m very much pleased with the effort I’ve put in throughout the years. Given that I’ve gotten this opportunity, it shows that everything is unfolding, and it’s just a step closer to where I want to be.”
Descarte scored 123 runs with the Barbados Tridents in the 2026 CPL, including a career-best 56 against the Jamaica Kingsmen at Kensington Oval. The 29-year-old allrounder also has three fifties and a century in 28 matches for the Windward Islands Volcanoes since making his regional debut n 2022.
“It is definitely a good opportunity for me to show the West Indies selectors and the rest of the world what I’m really capable of, showcasing my abilities and trying to get into the West Indies setup,” he concluded, vowing to put the work in to make himself, his country, and his family proud.
Gaston, meanwhile, is an emerging fast bowler, and he is keen to learn from Gibson, who took 34 wickets in just 15 One Day International Wickets, and a further 328 scalps in regional white-ball cricket.
“Making the West Indies A-team means a lot to me. It’s a proud moment for me, my family, and also those who supported me along my journey so far. I’m also grateful for the opportunity and will try to make the most of it, just trying to put my best foot forward,” said Gaston.
“On that camp, I will just look to take in as much knowledge as I can along the way, take all the positives, learn from them, learn from the negatives as well, and all in all, just try to have a good A-tour.”
