BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – With a voice wealthy in pleasure and reverence for the legacy of Caribbean cricket, Prime Minister Mia Mottley hailed the elevation of Roston Chase to West Indies Test captain as a “historic second” for Barbados and the area.
The 33-year-old all-rounder was formally named captain by Cricket West Indies (CWI) following a aggressive and thorough choice course of by which he emerged forward of 5 different candidates.
Chase, who takes over from fellow Barbadian Kraigg Brathwaite, now turns into the tenth Barbadian to guide the West Indies in Take a look at cricket. His appointment additionally underscores an unprecedented second in regional sport—all senior West Indies groups are presently below Barbadian management: Shai Hope for the white-ball groups, Hayley Matthews for the ladies’s squad, and now Roston Chase for the Take a look at aspect.
A historic lineage of management
In a robust written tribute, Mottley linked Chase’s appointment to a wealthy continuum of Barbadian cricketing management, spanning practically a century—from the elegant stylings of Teddy Hoad to the revolutionary legacy of Frank Worrell.
“Right now, we witness historical past. Roston Chase, a humble son of the soil, is now the tenth Barbadian to captain the West Indies workforce — a unprecedented milestone not only for him, however for each Barbadian who believes in self-discipline, dignity, and quiet dedication.”
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She went on to recount the icons who formed the narrative of West Indies cricket—Sir Garry Sobers, Clyde Walcott, Desmond Haynes, Jason Holder, and extra—noting how every introduced distinct management at vital moments in regional historical past.
“From Teddy Hoad in 1929 through the inaugural residence Take a look at towards England, to Frank Worrell, the primary black man to captain the West Indies in a full sequence. He was a transformative determine for our area. To Garry Sobers, certainly one of our two residing nationwide heroes and the best cricketer the world has ever seen. Clyde Walcott, one of many immortal Three Ws. Desmond Haynes, regular and dependable on the helm, who served as an ODI captain.”
“We keep in mind too Floyd Reifer, known as to guide throughout a time of nice problem in 2009 when a gamers’ strike left a void — and it was to Barbados the area turned, as a result of Barbados has at all times proven management, and dependability.”
“Then got here the commanding presence of Jason Holder, the dogged resilience of Kraigg Brathwaite, and the finesse of Shai Hope, who’s presently the captain of each white ball groups. And allow us to not overlook Hayley Matthews, the dynamic captain of the West Indies Girls’s workforce, whose fearless management and all-round brilliance proceed to encourage a brand new technology of ladies and ladies throughout the Caribbean.”
Roston Chase: The quiet storm
For Prime Minister Mottley, Chase’s appointment is about greater than runs or wickets—it’s a reward for unshakeable dedication and humility. She lauded the person behind the statistics: a participant outlined by grit fairly than glory.
“Roston Chase stands tall amongst these giants. Not a flashy participant, however one who quietly goes about his work. A person of effort, of persistence, of perception. In some ways, he represents the perfect of who we’re — working onerous, staying grounded, and trusting that reward comes not with noise, however with resolve.”
Certainly, since making his Take a look at debut in 2016, Chase has constructed a profession on reliable performances and a piece ethic that displays the perfect of Barbadian values. For Mottley, this appointment is each a private triumph for Chase and a collective victory for a tradition of excellence.
“And what a narrative Barbados continues to jot down: three West Indies Take a look at captains, back-to-back-to-back. That’s no coincidence. That’s character. That’s dedication. That’s the tradition of cricket on this nation.”
Gratitude to those that formed a frontrunner
Prime Minister Mottley additionally prolonged heartfelt because of the pillars behind Chase’s journey—his faculties, his mentors, and above all, his household.
“To Wesley Corridor and Combermere, faculties which have helped nurture him, I say — thanks. To the coaches, at each degree, who poured into him — thanks. To Roston’s dad and mom, Margaret and Radcliffe, who’ve stood by him via each run, each spell, and each problem — thanks for permitting your son to blossom. And to Roston himself — thanks, for being on this second.”
Roston Chase now steps onto the pitch not simply with bat and ball—however with the burden of legacy, the religion of a nation, and the hopes of a technology. His quiet resolve has introduced him to the summit of West Indies cricket—and Barbados proudly stands behind him.
