Sammy Defends Fast-Tracking Jamaica Teen Spinner Vitel Lawes After ODI Breakthrough

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has singled out Jamaican teen Vitel Lawes for credit after the left-arm wrist spinner’s strong first outing in senior international cricket during the just-finished ODI series versus New Zealand.

Still enrolled at St. Jago High School, Lawes received an unexpected first West Indies summons despite never featuring in a first-class fixture. Coaches flagged him after he stood out at the preparatory camp that preceded the regional side’s home assignment against Sri Lanka.

At 18, he struck quickly on debut with figures of 3-54. Across the five ODIs he finished with eight wickets, averaging 28.50 and conceding 5.30 runs an over. His sharpest return in the series was 3-39.

Reflecting once the rubber ended, Sammy stressed that elevating the young spinner was a measured call. The coaching group, he said, weighed Lawes’ upside thoroughly before giving him his first chance on the international stage.

Those returns have since backed that judgment. Lawes ranked among the West Indies’ standout performers in the series and has deepened his claim as a prospect with a long runway ahead.