The young West Indies fast bowler talks about his best spells, what he's learnt from Curtly Ambrose, and why he sometimes picks fights.Born into a cricketing family, Jayden Seales was introduced to the game as a toddler. He made his West Indies debut at 19, after creating a strong impression in the 2020 Under-19 World Cup. In 2022, in his third Test, he became the youngest West Indian bowler to take a Test five-for. Days before flying out for his first tour of India, 24-year-old Seales talked to us about how he approaches his bowling, the mechanics of his action, and his career highlights.
I grew up in Basta Hall Village in Couva in Trinidad. It's a very small community. The majority of my family played cricket - my grandfather, Nigel Seales, my uncles Devon and Neil Seales, played for either Basta Hall or Milton Cricket Club, and my father, Larry Seales, played as well. My older cousin, Jalarnie Seales, played for CCC [Combined Campuses and Colleges], regional cricket for Trinidad and Tobago, all youth levels.
I choose to pick a fight at times. It makes me switched on a lot more. But whilst being in the fight, I need to remind myself: don't let my emotions get too high because then I'll be straining. So I try to get into a fight but still stay level-headed.By "fight", you mean a verbal duel to rev yourself up?
I was giving a lot of talk to Sam Konstas. Felt [since] he was young, I could intimidate him. [In] England, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, Joe Root… I'll pick a fight with anyone just to get myself into the game.