News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. June 12, 2024: As the US moves on in the ICC World Cup tourney, four Caribbean heritage players are part of the US Cricket squad in Caribbean American Heritage Month. They are:
Aaron Jones
Aaron Jones, the current vice-captain of the US Cricket Team, is of Bajan parentage. A right-handed top-order batsman and occasional leg spinner, Jones made his List A debut in January 2016 and his first-class debut in October 2017. He has been a significant player for the US since 2018, making notable contributions in T20I and ODI formats. Jones was the leading run-scorer for the US in the 2018 ICC World Cricket League Division Three tournament. Thereafter, he has continued to excel, including a standout performance in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. In this match, he scored a match-winning 94 off 40 deliveries. Moreover, after winning the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup West Indies & USA 2024 match between USA and Canada at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium on in Dallas, Texas, Jones won the Player of the Match award from Ian Bishop.
Steven Ryan Taylor
Florida-born Steven Ryan Taylor, of Jamaican parentage, is a left-handed top-order batsman and right-arm off-spin bowler. Taylor has played in West Indian domestic cricket and several Caribbean Premier League (CPL) teams. He has been a key player for the US. He is the first U.S. batsman to score a century in Twenty20 competition in 2013. Taylor made his ODI debut for the US in April 2019 and achieved his first ODI century in June 2022 against Nepal. Taylor has been an essential part of the US cricket team’s growth and success on the international stage. He is specifically known for his explosive batting and reliable off-spin.
Gajanand Singh
Guyanese born cricketer, Gajanand Singh, is currently playing for the United States national cricket team. Singh’s cricket journey began with the West Indies under-19 team. In this team he represented at the 2006 U-19 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, he also played first-class and List A cricket for Guyana.
Singh, 36, made his Twenty20 debut for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League on August 6, 2017.
In January 2021, USA Cricket included Singh in a 44-man squad for training in Texas ahead of the 2021 Oman Tri-Nation Series. Thereafter, by June 2021, Singh was playing for the Minor League Cricket tournament in the United States following the players’ draft. His impressive performance led to his inclusion in the United States’ One Day International (ODI) squad. He played in the rescheduled tri-series in Oman and their matches against Papua New Guinea. Eventually, Singh made his ODI debut on September 6, 2021, against Papua New Guinea.
In October 2021, Singh joined the American Twenty20 International (T20I) squad. He played for the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier tournament in Antigua. He made his T20I debut on November 7, 2021, against Belize.
In May 2024, Singh served as a reserve player for the American squad. He participated in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Kyle Phillip
Kyle Phillip, 27, is a Trinidadian-American cricketer who represents the United States cricket team. Phillip made his List A debut for the United States in the 2018–19 Regional Super50 tournament on October 10, 2018.
In June 2019, Phillip was named in a 30-man training squad for the US cricket team ahead of the Regional Finals of the 2018–19 ICC T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier tournament in Bermuda. Later that month, he was selected to play for the Edmonton Royals franchise team in the 2019 Global T20 Canada tournament.
In June 2021, Phillip was chosen to participate in the Minor League Cricket tournament in the United States following the players’ draft. By August 2021, he was named a travelling reserve player for the United States’ tour of Oman. In September 2021, Phillip was added to the United States’ One Day International (ODI) squad for the series against Nepal. He made his ODI debut on September 17, 2021, for the United States against Nepal. He remains a key member of Team USA in 2024.
Juanoy Drysdale
Juanoy Drysdale, 28, was born in Jamaica and is an emerging fast bowler for the USA. Drysdale made his international debut in 2021 and has quickly made a mark with his pace and ability to generate bounce. Known for his aggressive bowling style and knack for taking early wickets, he has become a promising talent in the American cricket scene. Therefore, Drysdale’s athleticism and potential make him a player to watch for the future, as he continues to develop and contribute to the USA’s cricketing aspirations.
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