Saint Lucian cricket has a new standard-bearer: Ackeem Wayne Jarrell Auguste. The left-handed top-order batsman truly came of age in 2025, delivering remarkable performances that included a maiden Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League half-century, debuts for the West Indies Men’s Senior Team in both One Day Internationals and T20 Internationals, and a maiden T20 International fifty in a match-winning effort against Bangladesh.
Auguste also played a pivotal role for Saint Lucia in the Windward Islands Men’s 50 Over competition, smashing an unbeaten 209 in the finals, the highest individual score in the competition’s history, and helping Saint Lucia secure the title. These feats earned him Sportsman of the Year honours at the National Sports Awards ceremony held on February 14. The triumph marked the culmination of a journey that began at the junior level.
From early on, Auguste’s talent was evident, as highlighted in the now-viral CPL feature with his father, Wayne Auguste. His promise blossomed during primary school, nurtured by coach John Eugene through his cricketing academy. He was talented enough to compete in the United Insurance Under-15 Secondary School Cricket competition before even being officially accepted into a secondary school. He later represented the Saint Lucia Seventh-day Adventist Academy under the leadership of principal Cyrus Cepal and coach Bernie Joseph.
A solid secondary school career at St Mary’s College followed, along with national and Windward Islands youth team selections. Auguste eventually captained the West Indies Under-19 Team, earning Junior Sportsman of the Year honours at Saint Lucia’s National Sports Awards in 2022. His rise continued with selection for the Windward Islands Senior Men’s teams and eventually selection for the West Indies Academy, a group of emerging players and top youth performers in the Caribbean.
In an interview with St Lucia Times, Auguste revealed that a mindset shift paved the way for his breakout season in 2025.
“It’s difficult to pinpoint one specific moment, but throughout last year I worked closely with our batting coach at the academy, Rohan Nurse and head coach Ramesh Subasinghe. Throughout conversations, I realised that it didn’t make sense that I trained hard and then doubted myself in games. I decided to be brave and trust my preparation,” he said.
Despite his latest national recognition, the 22-year-old remains grounded.
“Honestly, [my perspective] hasn’t changed much. I’m grateful for the recognition, but I just take it as part of the journey. The goal was always to play cricket at a high level and represent my family and country well. If a young player is inspired by how I go about my preparation and how I carry myself, then that is a plus,” he said.
Outside of Saint Lucian circles, Auguste has also earned praise from notable figures in the game. Subasinghe described him as “one of the hardest workers in West Indies cricket”. During his maiden CPL half-century, the fastest fifty of the 2025 season, coming off just 19 balls.
Former Ireland batter-turned-commentator Nial O’Brien remarked, “Some people are gifted with hands that can just loft the ball effortlessly over the boundary for six, and this young man is one of those.”
Auguste also offered words of advice for aspiring sportsmen and women: “I would encourage them to take accountability for their training, be intentional with preparation and embrace the difficult patches; it’s a chance to grow. Also, don’t get caught up in the hype. While it is important to strike a balance between cricket and life outside of it, remember what is important for them and what they are trying to achieve.”
As he continues to grow in his young career, Auguste represents what independent Saint Lucia continues to produce: disciplined, confident, world-class talent rooted at home.