Young West Indies batter Kevin Wickham says the impact of losing his father, Herbert, has stayed with him—but he believes the worst of his tough spell is now behind him. The 23-year-old’s father passed away more than two years ago, and Wickham admits that, even for someone committed to the game, grief can create a difficult period that takes time to move past.
That difficult phase appears to be easing. Recently, Wickham struck two centuries in a first-class outing, representing Barbados Pride. He made 153 and followed it with an unbeaten 108 in the second innings. The double ton has also placed him among a select group: he became the third batsman from Barbados to record two centuries in a single match since the start of the century. Kraigg Brathwaite achieved the feat with scores of 102 and 122 against Guyana in 2015, while Ryan Hinds followed with 168 and 150 versus the Leeward Islands back in 2006. Wickham said that fact resonates with him, because it connects his achievement to West Indies cricket history.
Even with the celebrations, Wickham says he still carries the loss every day. Speaking to the official Cricket West Indies website, he described the moment he received the news and how it affected his playing and mindset. “When my father passed, that was the toughest part for me. I was here in Jamaica when I got the news that he wasn’t doing too well, and I left for home. After returning to playing following the funeral, I wasn’t doing too well on the field because it was really tough,” Wickham said.
He also explained that teammates helped him through the mental strain. “The guys showed me a lot of support because it was more mental than physical, and having their support kept me above ground and helped me maintain high standards and be where I am supposed to be,” he added.
Wickham further recalled how his father supported his career in his own way, even without attending matches. “I think about my dad all the time because he was very supportive. He never really watched the games by coming to the grounds, but he would always listen to the radio, a more old, schooled way. Every time I came home, he could tell me how much I scored, what I should and shouldn’t have done. To this day, I miss him because I miss having those conversations, and when I’m not doing too well, I try to think back to his advice,” he said.
Milestones and what Wickham says about his twin centuries
- Wickham featured at the 2022 Under-19 World Cup.
- In recent years, he has faced some setbacks, but his latest first-class form has reignited expectations around his development.
- Speaking on the significance of his two hundreds, Wickham said his first-innings century was especially meaningful because it became his highest score in first-class cricket to date.
- He explained that he came in when the team was under pressure, and his goal was to stay at the crease and help set a solid total.
- On his second century, he said the match situation was similar, and he approached it with the same mindset—aiming to lift the team into a strong position.
With the twin knocks—153 and 108 not out—Wickham has not only underlined his batting class, but also highlighted how personal resilience and cricketing focus can return together, even after the hardest losses.
