Barbadian all-rounder Matthew Forde says he’s committed to seizing every opportunity to influence matches with both bat and ball following a breakthrough red-ball campaign for Barbados Pride in the West Indies Championship.
“I told myself I wanted to create moments whenever the captain called on me, whether it was with bat or ball,” said Forde, reflecting on his debut season after he was highlighted today by Cricket West Indies (CWI) as a ‘Player to Remember’ from this year’s red-ball campaign.
“I watched the team in the Super50s, and they had something going on — they found a way to win. That’s one thing I admired.”
Forde, who has already represented the West Indies in white-ball formats and was a member of the Under-19 setup in 2020, hopes to carve out a path to Test cricket.
“I love cricket — red-ball, white-ball, pink-ball — I just love to play,” he said. “It was always my dream to play for the West Indies, and obviously, Test cricket being the ultimate format, it’s a challenge — but I like challenges. If given the opportunity, I will be happy to represent the West Indies at any level.”
His maiden West Indies Championship campaign certainly turned heads. Forde finished the season with 396 runs at an average of 39.60, while also taking 17 wickets with his accurate medium pace. Batting at number seven, the 22-year-old struck a defining 82 on debut against eventual champions Guyana Harpy Eagles and claimed a five-wicket haul in the same match at Providence Stadium.
Though Barbados Pride narrowly missed out on the title by 5.4 points, Forde’s contributions stood out in crucial moments. He returned to his boyhood home of St. Lucia to score an unbeaten 66 in a dramatic run chase against the Windward Islands, then followed it up with his maiden first-class century in a stunning comeback win over the Leeward Islands at Warner Park.
Forde’s national captain Kraigg Brathwaite spoke glowingly about him prior to his century, which played a big role in Barbados finishing as runners-up in the competition.
“Even from the first game of the season, watching him when I was in Pakistan — seeing how he went about scoring that 80-odd against Guyana — that was superb to see,” Brathwaite said in the last captain’s media interaction hosted by CWI. “Just from his attitude and how he carries himself, he’s a match-winner. I think that’s one thing that I determined from seeing that first game.”
Forde attributes his endurance and effectiveness to a focus on fitness and consistent training.
“I try to pride myself on fitness. I’m always doing some backroom work to strengthen the body, as well as some swimming, which has helped me a lot over the past year,” he noted. “With bat and ball, I do extra work with the Batting Lab in Barbados and additional bowling work at UWI Cave Hill, which enables me to give 100 per cent all the time.”
The 22-year-old has played eight One-Day Internationals, taking 13 wickets at an average of 21.61, as well as averaging 20.66 with the bat. In T20I cricket, he averages 22.25 with the ball from his six appearances, which have yielded eight wickets. (JC)
