West Indies cricketers Alzarri Joseph and Jewel Andrew have outlined their ambitions for the future after recently being named Antigua’s Sportsman and Junior Sportsman of the Year, respectively. While Joseph has set his sights on assisting the West Indies reclaim their former dominance, Andrew hopes to inspire young players to pursue cricketing success.
Joseph, the West Indies’ premier fast bowler, emphasized his desire to see the regional team regain its stature as a global cricketing powerhouse, particularly in the Test format.
"For me, I want to see West Indies cricket back where I think it belongs—being world champions,” the 28-year-old pacer said on the Good Morning Jojo sports show.
Joseph, who has already taken 288 international wickets across all formats since his debut in 2016, believes that if he can leave West Indies Test cricket in a stronger position, he would consider his career a success.
"If you realize now, there is a Test Championship. Our Test cricket is not in the best state, but if I could leave it in a better place than where I met it, then I’d be happy with what I’ve done in my career,” he added.
The West Indies currently sit eighth in the ICC Test rankings, ahead of only Bangladesh, Ireland, Afghanistan, and Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old all-rounder Andrew, who first gained attention during the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, hopes his recent accolade will serve as a source of motivation for young cricketers in the region.
"I think that I can encourage and inspire other players coming up after me. That’s something I’ve always wanted to do—not just to be a great player but to help others realize their potential,” Andrew shared.
Andrew, who made his ODI debut with West Indies last year, sees the Junior Sportsman of the Year title as a significant milestone in his young career. The talented batsman also represents both Leeward Islands Hurricanes and Pigotts Crushers.
"It’s something all young players dream of having, so I will cherish it. It gives me a confidence boost to keep pushing forward,” he said.