GEORGETOWN, Guyana - At just 19 years old, Vitel Lawes is on the verge of realizing the dream shared by countless Caribbean cricketers; representing the West Indies senior team on the international stage.
The talented left-arm wrist spinner, who hails from Wakefield Savannah, a rural community in Linstead, St Catherine, Jamaica, has rapidly emerged as one of the region's brightest young prospects. His stock rose significantly after an outstanding performance at the ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup earlier this year, where he was named to the ICC Team of the Tournament.
Lawes claimed 10 wickets during the competition and bowled more dot balls than any other player, underlining both his wicket-taking ability and remarkable control.
When the West Indies oppose New Zealand in the five match one day international series which starts in Guyana on July 11, Lawes is in line to become the 230th player to wear the maroon for the people of the Caribbean in the 50 over format.
He recalls the moment he received the selection call from Head Coach Daren Sammy.
“When I got the news, I just concluded the Senior Cup final in Jamaica and I was going back to my home club to celebrate and I saw a couple of missed calls on my phone that I obviously returned and got the good news,” Lawes said. “I was overjoyed, plus with the joy of me winning the senior cup, it was a happy day for me.”
Sharing the news to his closest relatives was also important for Lawes who took part in the high-performance white ball camp in Antigua prior to the start of the West Indies international home season.
“I actually called my mother and then I called my mentor after, and we had a long talk about it.”
Having caught the eyes of the world with his mystery and mastery of the art in the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year, Lawes says the journey has been compelling at times.
“It has been a long and tedious process, a lot of hard work, happy to see it pay off’, Lawes expressed. “During the journey there will be doubt but that’s where the positive mindset comes into play and you have to believe in your self.”
“The under-19 experience has shaped me a lot to be honest, pairing that with working with somebody as great as Nikita Miller has given me key insights and helped my mindset with this present stage of my career,” Lawes shared. “I bring deception and energy to the team. As Nikita Miller told me, it is about controlling your emotions, when you experience something as exciting as this, it is important to enjoy it, but always believe that everyday is a new day and there will be a new challenge.”
Nikita Miller who represented the West Indies in all three formats, has been working with Lawes as a specialist coach since October 2025 and has identified several values within the spinner.
“One of the first things which stood out to me is his professionalism, he is always on time, he is eager to learn and brings a strong work ethic to every session,” Miller said. “Vitel has a unique skill set that not many international teams have at their disposal, but what impresses me the most is his willingness to keep improving while remaining disciplined and he is also open to feedback and I think that these qualities along with his talent give him a solid foundation to become better.”
Diminutive in stature but big in personality and promise, Lawes idolizes his compatriots and club mates Rovman Powell and Andre Russell as well as limited overs captain Shai Hope. However, there is a sense that this could be his time to leave a legacy for future generations.
“This call up I hope is the beginning of something great; the start of my story,” Lawes said.
For every young cricketer who has imagined wearing the maroon, Lawes' journey is a reminder that talent flourishes when matched with resilience and relentless hard work. At just 19, his story is only beginning, but as he prepares to take the field for the West Indies, one thing is certain, the boy from Wakefield Savannah is ready to turn a lifelong dream into reality.
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