As the highly anticipated Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Under-19 tournament approaches, Robin Parris, head coach of the defending champion Barbados squad, has voiced unwavering confidence that his team can hold onto their crown when competition kicks off in Antigua from July 9 to 23. Gadson Bowens, a core leader of the squad, has been tapped to captain the 14-member team through the two-week tournament, with the full roster and support staff officially announced recently.
In an exclusive interview with Barbados TODAY following the squad unveiling, Parris painted a picture of a cohesive, balanced roster that blends tested experience with promising emerging talent. He highlighted the key players that form the team’s experienced backbone: starting with captain Bowens, Justin Parris who comes off a strong showing on an ‘A’ team tour, R’Jai Gittens fresh off representing the West Indies at the recent U-19 World Cup, and all-rounder Rafael Lovell.
Parris noted that the squad features a mix of players with multiple years of youth competitive experience, split between athletes based in Barbados and those plying their trade in domestic cricket systems in England, all of which has contributed to a steadily developing, competitive unit. The head coach singled out the team’s fast bowling group as a particularly potent strength that is expected to deliver strong results on Antigua’s pitches. With five talented, young fast bowlers still honing their craft and three consecutive tournament titles under Barbados’ belt, Parris said the ongoing winning legacy is a testament to the foundational work laid by previous coaching staff and the overall strength of youth cricket development across Barbados.
Far from feeling pressured by the weight of Barbados’ outstanding track record in the tournament, Parris framed past successes as a motivating source of inspiration for the current squad and coaching team. “For me, it’s about upholding the long-held standards of Barbados youth cricket, living up to the benchmarks set by the coaches who came before us, while also pushing ourselves and our players to grow,” Parris explained. Alongside assistant coach Roddy Estwick, the coaching staff’s core priority extends beyond winning: they are focused on building strong foundational habits and preparing young athletes to step up to higher levels of competitive cricket in the future.
“Our approach is straightforward: take it one match at a time, put in the work in preparation, build strong team chemistry, and leave every bit of effort out on the pitch when we compete,” Parris added.
The full 14-player Barbados squad for the tournament is: Gadson Bowens (captain), Asher Branford, Kelani Clarke, Kemar Dixon, R’Jai Gittens, Jordan Graham, Zarell Harding, Jahidi Hinds, Raphael Lovell, Justin Parris, Rajeev Parsooram, Jakeem Pollard, Seth Smith, and Damarko Wiggins. Joining head coach Robin Parris and assistant coach Roderick Estwick on the management team are manager Dwayne Best and physiotherapist Kwayne Dalrymple.