Two promising cricketing talents from Saint Lucia, all-rounder Shadrack Descarte and emerging fast bowler Keon Gaston, have secured coveted call-ups to the West Indies A roster this week, as the side prepares for an eight-match white-ball showdown against England A hosted across St Kitts and Nevis. Both athletes are arriving at the training and match camp with sharp focus, determined to leave a lasting positive impression on head coach Ottis Gibson as they chase career-defining progress toward full senior West Indies national selection.
For 29-year-old Descarte, the call-up marks a hard-earned milestone after years of consistent high performance across regional domestic and franchise cricket. A veteran of 17 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) appearances, he turned heads during the 2026 season representing the Barbados Tridents, amassing 123 total runs including a career-high knock of 56 against the Jamaica Kingsmen at the iconic Kensington Oval. Since making his regional debut for the Windward Islands Volcanoes in 2022, he has notched three half-centuries and one century across 28 competitive appearances for the side, cementing his reputation as a reliable, dynamic all-round threat.
“This is an absolutely incredible opportunity, and I cannot be more grateful for it,” Descarte shared in a post-selection interview. “This brings me one huge step closer to the career goals I have mapped out for myself over the next few years, and it’s validation that all the hours of hard work I’ve put in over the years are paying off, that everything is falling into place as I hoped it would. I see this series as my chance to prove to West Indies selectors, and cricket fans across the globe, exactly what I am capable of delivering. I am going to pour every ounce of effort I have into this campaign, to make myself, my family, and the entire nation of Saint Lucia proud, and push my way into contention for a spot in the senior West Indies setup.”
For 22-year-old rising fast bowling prospect Gaston, the series represents a rare chance to learn directly from one of the most decorated white-ball bowling figures in West Indies cricket history: head coach Ottis Gibson, who claimed 34 wickets in just 15 senior One Day International appearances, and racked up an extraordinary 328 scalps across his storied regional white-ball career.
“Making the West Indies A squad is the proudest moment of my sporting life so far, it means the absolute world to me,” Gaston remarked. “This isn’t just a win for me, it’s a proud milestone for my whole family, and every coach, teammate and supporter who has stood by me and helped me get to this point. I am going to seize every single moment of this camp and series, give every performance my absolute best, and soak up every bit of knowledge and experience I can get from the coaching staff and senior players. I’ll learn just as much from any missteps as I do from the wins, and I’m fully focused on turning this into a standout, career-advancing A-team tour.”