Fabian Allen

Believers say Allen can become a real force for West Indies, a three-in-one package, akin to India’s Ravi Jadeja

The Cricketer | 04/05/2019 at 14:46

Born: May 7, 1995

Role: Right-hand bat, slow left arm

Fabian Allen has been picked on potential. He is a left-handed strokemaker who bowls zippy spin, and is an electric fielder.

Believers say he can become a real force for West Indies, a three-in-one package, akin to India’s Ravi Jadeja.

He did not show what he was capable of in his first four ODIs, with a total of 25 runs, and no wickets. Nor did he bat well in his first seven T20I innings (51 runs), but he did take eight wickets.

To see the real potential however, check out footage of his unbeaten 64 from 34 balls to help St Kitts and Nevis Patriots beat Barbados Tridents in his maiden Caribbean Premier League innings last September.

Or his unbelievably breath-taking one-handed boundary catch against Guyana Amazon Warriors in 2017. “The best I’ve ever seen,” said Ian Bishop, and no that is not hyperbole.

Allen has also batted well for Jamaica Scorpions in the four-day game (with two centuries); for West Indies B in the Global T20 in Canada; and at the 2014 Under-19 World Cup.

It seems a tall ask to throw him into the World Cup on the back of such tender ODI experience, so the selectors clearly feel he has the right stuff.

WEST INDIES PLAYER PROFILES

Fabian Allen

Carlos Brathwaite