The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket

These English Bajans

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nick2020 5/29/25, 8:31:36 PM
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debut: 7/2/12
29,235 runs

Can a resident Bajan tell me about Jacob Bethell's cricket while he was in Barbados?

According to cricinfo:

In another world, Bethell could have been playing his international cricket for West Indies: he was born and raised in Barbados, but moved to England as a 13-year-old after winning a scholarship to Rugby School. He quickly joined the youth ranks at Warwickshire, and signed pro terms aged 17, in early 2021. His debut came in the T20 Blast later that year, and he made his name as part of the England Under-19 team that reached the World Cup final in early 2022, hitting 88 from 42 balls in the quarter-final against South Africa.


I am wondering if we have the ability to identify and develop talent. Was he promising as a 12 year old? If he stayed in the Caribbean would be have been able to take him to the point he is now?
TanteMerle 5/29/25, 9:20:22 PM
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debut: 2/22/04
8,755 runs

His father was a promising school by cricket,
and much was expected of him....but....

I actually lost contact, as i left Barbados in the 80's and stop following their league cricket.

His father's name is Graham Bethell.

I remember him playing in the Combined School team in Barbados top division, the then First division.
culpepperboy 5/29/25, 9:26:12 PM
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debut: 6/2/11
9,160 runs

In reply to nick2020

He was very promising. Hence the offer of a scholarship to move to England. Ate, breathed and drank cricket. I think he played with the Franklin Stephenson Academy.
culpepperboy 5/29/25, 9:27:59 PM
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debut: 6/2/11
9,160 runs

In reply to TanteMerle

His grand father played and captained Barbados.
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culpepperboy 5/29/25, 9:29:55 PM
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debut: 6/2/11
9,160 runs

By the way I am not a resident Bajan, but since Barbados is a colony of Culpepper Island. I felt at liberty to reply.
nick2020 5/29/25, 9:35:20 PM
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debut: 7/2/12
29,235 runs

In reply to culpepperboy

Much appreciated.

Sad to see talent exported given our state of cricket. But maybe our state is because we are not doing a good job developing our youth. May go to show how good the Poorans and Hopes of this world are to be able to rise and overcome.
hawk 5/29/25, 9:40:09 PM
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debut: 4/1/07
4,603 runs

He played under 11, under 13 and for the Franklyn Stephenson academy but he was never going to represent Barbados let alone west indies anybody who thought otherwise is a fool, it takes more than being born in Barbados to be a Bajan and a Bajan he is not, him and all others born here but chose England
He and them should be treated like any other England player
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Jumpstart 5/29/25, 9:47:32 PM
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debut: 11/30/17
11,806 runs

In reply to culpepperboy

but since Barbados is a colony of Culpepper Island

lol
openning 5/30/25, 12:57:39 AM
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debut: 11/13/02
44,848 runs

In reply to culpepperboy

Pickwick had several good cricketers, and Arthur Bethell and Tony White are two I remember.
His parent put him into the Franklyn Stephenson Academy. I have written about him and several others as they toured South Africa and England with the Academy.

Franklyn usually has two teams during the U13 tournament, He once accused the coaches in Bim of teaching from a book.
Onionman0 5/30/25, 7:29:16 AM
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debut: 3/6/20
4,640 runs

In reply to nick2020


I am wondering if we have the ability to identify and develop talent. Was he promising as a 12 year old? If he stayed in the Caribbean would be have been able to take him to the point he is now?


After 114 combined innings F.C.+ListA+ T20+test+Odis....the lad has batting average below 29 ...bowling averages nearly 80 ....with No Century in any formats...Call that some Talents.....

England selection policy....fast track players from other countries....play them few matches....discard... Remember Curran Brothers....

India soon touring England..... Things will crystallize .....
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Walco 5/30/25, 11:21:57 AM
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debut: 6/22/08
14,255 runs

In reply to hawk

Please explain what you mean by this or why you think that is the case:
he was never going to represent Barbados let alone west indies anybody who thought otherwise is a fool, it takes more than being born in Barbados to be a Bajan and a Bajan he is not
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openning 5/30/25, 1:09:22 PM
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debut: 11/13/02
44,848 runs

In reply to Walco

What he is saying is that any Bajan not making a living in Barbados is not Bajan.
methodic 5/30/25, 2:04:51 PM
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debut: 1/18/10
16,635 runs

In reply to hawk

I agree with you.
openning 5/30/25, 2:10:35 PM
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debut: 11/13/02
44,848 runs

I knew Roy Marshall, Shirley Chisholm, and Colin Powell were Bajans.
I even named my daughter Shirley because of her.
No one in the last three years of Carnival had a bigger Barbadian flag than my daughter.
She was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and tells people she is more Bajan than I.
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seaegg99 5/30/25, 2:58:40 PM
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debut: 4/6/05
4,698 runs

In reply to hawk

Jacob Bethel was on Bim's 2018 U15 Championship winning team. He opened he batting for Barbados.

https://x.com/windiescricket/status/982529449362120705

We even talked about it back then.

https://caribbeancricket.com/archivedtopic/1146827
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tc1 5/30/25, 3:12:19 PM
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debut: 6/12/04
18,387 runs

In reply to seaegg99

Thanks for the correction to the posters, he was the 3rd best player on the 2018 after Nimar Bolden and Che Simmonds.
Walco 5/30/25, 9:51:25 PM
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debut: 6/22/08
14,255 runs

In reply to openning

That would explain the second part of what I asked about, but not this part:
he was never going to represent Barbados let alone west indies anybody who thought otherwise is a fool
Walco 5/30/25, 9:53:56 PM
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debut: 6/22/08
14,255 runs

In reply to openning

Colin Powell was a Bajan??? shock shock shock
sudden 5/30/25, 10:20:33 PM
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debut: 11/27/06
54,206 runs

In reply to Walco

i think he meant Eric Holder (if anyone else) and not Powell
tc1 5/30/25, 10:22:11 PM
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debut: 6/12/04
18,387 runs

In reply to Walco

He meant to say Eric Holder ,your CU bro..Many say Riri is yardiie.
openning 5/30/25, 10:35:01 PM
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debut: 11/13/02
44,848 runs

In reply to Walco

Thanks for correcting me, Powell's roots are in Jamaica, Eric Holder's are in St. Joseph.
Heard him several times speaking of the summers he spent there.
Walco 5/30/25, 10:47:32 PM
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debut: 6/22/08
14,255 runs

In reply to sudden

Man every time I see Bethell I remember the fear that boy's father used to put in the hearts of U15 schoolboy bowlers playing against HC in the late 1970s smile
Walco 5/30/25, 10:50:28 PM
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debut: 6/22/08
14,255 runs

In reply to openning

Eric Holder's are in St. Joseph

That boy must have has some good steamed food and breadfruit cockoo during those summers in St. Joseph. My mouth watering all now for one of those fluffy steamed dumplings smile
Walco 5/30/25, 10:51:40 PM
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debut: 6/22/08
14,255 runs

In reply to tc1

Riri embraces Yardi-ism
sudden 5/30/25, 11:42:12 PM
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debut: 11/27/06
54,206 runs

In reply to Walco

Bethel and Armstrong

They dropped 200 odd on us on that small field at HC
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