How ‘diamond’ Hope was top of the class at an English school
Nick Hoult talks to Alan Wells, the man who gave the West Indies hero a chance in rural Sussex
There is a life-size picture of Shai Hope in the St Bede’s school pavilion in East Sussex where they fondly remember West Indies’ new hero as a cricketer who “never wanted to get out”, whether he was batting in a cup final or in the nets.
Hope spent two years at St Bede’s sixth form from 2012 on a scholarship after being spotted on a scouting mission to Barbados by Alan Wells, the school’s head of cricket. Immediately made captain, Hope took his school to two national finals, scored almost 1,000 runs in two seasons and was a Test cricketer for West Indies within a couple of years of leaving.
He spoke to Wells yesterday morning after his second hundred in the Test at Headingley and the pair hope to catch up at Lord’s next week during the last match in the series, which West Indies could now win.
Composed and with a good defence, Hope displayed a touch of class at the crease at Headingley that Wells remembers from the teenage cricketer who immediately struck him as “English in his style”.
“What hit me was his passion, his enjoyment for the game, his determination to improve,” said Wells. “He is a lovely young man and we always saw the potential in him. He was a slight young lad at 15-16 but we knew that, as he got older and stronger, he would have a good chance of fulfilling his potential.”
As a former county pro with Sussex who played one Test for England, Wells could recognise a special talent immediately, particularly when he realised his resolve and focus.
“He would have intense net sessions and one story that sticks in my mind is when I asked him walking into the nets once what he wanted that day. He said, ‘Same as every net – I never want to get out’. For a 16-year-old to have that approach gives you an idea of how willing he was to work hard.
“He was outstanding and left a legacy in Sussex schools cricket. If you go round the circuit people still talk about some of the innings Shai played. I remember a game at Ardingly College, who had a young fast bowler, Abidine Sakande, who was playing for England Under-19s. Shai did not think he was quick enough, so stood two or three metres outside his crease and kept whacking him over the trees for six and scored a brilliant 170 not out. It was quite outstanding.”
It chimes with Hope’s comment after his heroic performance at Headingley. “We are Test cricketers for a reason and we know we have the ability to perform.”
Simple, honest and understated. His demeanour after the win at Headingley was as if he had just had a first-baller. There is no show to him. On the West Indies’ Facebook page is an interview with Shai and his brother Kyle, filmed before they left the Caribbean for England. It is Kyle who does most of the talking. Shai replies matter of factly when asked his ambitions in cricket – “Achieve as much as I can. Win as many games for West Indies as possible.”
It is a side of his personality Wells recognises. “He is a massively strong character, very determined. He only wants to win games of cricket for his country, club or school. He is very competitive, very strong willed and you could not wish for a better role model when you put those kind of characteristics in a 17-year-old.”
While it was an amazing life opportunity, moving from Barbados to rural Sussex and an English public school was a tough character test. “We are stuck in
‘He is a strong character, very determined. You could not wish for a better role model’
beautiful countryside. In September the weather can change very dramatically so to go from the white sandy beaches to the depths of the English countryside is a culture shock,” said Wells.
“Quite a few turn up and ask, ‘What am I doing here?’ But within a few months they soon settle in. He immersed himself in the life of the school, joined the basketball team and helped run the house he was in.
“I still have the onerous task of going to Barbados to choose the scholar and we still have links with Barbados Cricket Association, but unearthing a diamond like Shai is very rare.”