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Lumsden Relishing The Opportunity To Play In The Caribbean
Lumsden Relishing The Opportunity To Play In The Caribbean
17-year-old Hampshire paceman Manny Lumsden is eager to make a mark on his time with England U19s as they play the West Indies in seven ODIs
Manny Lumsden. The latest express pace bowler in the Hampshire ranks following the likes of fellow Academy graduates Eddie Jack, Scott Currie, and Chris Wood.
He was called up to England’s U19 squad to play Bangladesh and Ireland in September following a meteoric rise having debuted for Hampshire in the Metro Bank One Day Cup aged just 16 years old.
He is now on his first tour with England U19s, and a particularly poignant one at that, to the West Indies.
His father, Audley, was born in Jamaica and played rugby for Bath, with whom he scored 64 tries in over 120 games, and went on to coach Gloucester to become one of the first black men to both play and coach professional rugby in the UK.
“I’m incredibly excited,” Lumsden told BBC Solent, “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do as someone of West Indian heritage.
“I wouldn’t have expected at the start of this year that come November it would be something I can achieve.”
That fact he’s set to live out a dream at only 17-years-old is testament to his performances and dedication across the last 12 months.
He joined Hook Cricket Club in the north of the county when he was in single digits.
A few years later and he was selected in Hampshire’s Academy, played for the Second XI and then found himself making his professional debut against Glamorgan at Neath, something Lumsden wasn’t expecting at all.
“About a week before [the One Day Cup] I didn’t really think I was going to be involved, and then a week later I’m making my debut.
“It was nerve-wracking, but it was nice to get through it and take some wickets. I learned so much every game.”
Lumsden will be touring with one familiar face in Ben Mayes, who has signed a multi-year contract with Hampshire and also debuted in the One Day Cup.
But as a first tour, the West Indies is an unknown for many of the squad.
Lumsden said: “Not many people in the team have played cricket in the West Indies.
“The coaches say pitches might be a bit of a lottery and they might be low and slow but at the same time, in the last Test match there, no-one got about 200 and it was nipping around everywhere.”
For a young quick bowler, Lumsden is hoping conditions are the latter.
The matches run from 19th November to 1st December, with a warm up match followed by six ODIs at the National Stadium in Grenada.
The tour will be an opportunity for Lumsden and others in the squad to stake their claim for places in the Under 19s World Cup which takes place in January 2026 in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Previous Hampshire players to feature in the U19 World Cup include Eddie Jack, Dom Kelly, Scott Currie, Liam Dawson, and captains Tom Prest, Brad Taylor, and James Vince.
“It’s a dream to play in a World Cup,” said Lumsden, “you never really think about how soon that could be if all goes well.
“I’m just trying to take it one step at a time and try and play my best cricket.”
From being inspired early on by his father and videos of the great West Indies attack of Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall et al, Lumsden is keen to show what he can do on a tour that means more than just a chance to impress the coaches.
Ten years down the line, we may see the now-17-year-old emulating his heroes on the biggest stage of all.
