The Clarendon parish in Jamaica is famous for its rate of violence, frequent killings, and Oshane Thomas. Oshane Thomas impressed during West Indies’ rout of Pakistan on Friday. His solid contribution of 4/27 in 5.4 overs played a key role in dismantling Pakistan, as they scored their second lowest total ever in a World Cup game (the lowest being 74 against England in 1992).
His story is one of overcoming much violence and strife, and achieving success through talent and hard work. A quick Google News search of his hometown turns up multiple reports of killings and robberies. Thomas did not have an easy childhood growing up there. He was a regular witness to violence, and he saw his 16-year-old brother shot and killed in front of his eyes at the age 11.
At 20, he was also robbed at gun-point by three men when he when to an ATM before heading to a local supermarket.
Thomas was first noticed by Chris Gayle when he was bowling in the nets. “I was in high school in 2016. I was just bowling, and Gayle saw me and I got selected. (I) Made my debut in the semi-final and final, and did fairly well. The year after, I only played two games. Got Chris out for a duck because he went to St Kitts Patriots!”, said Thomas in an interview to ESPN.
Thereafter, he has been shooting upwards, and impressing at every level. He grabbed headlines in 2017, when, during his Man of the Match performance for the Jamaica Tallawahs, when he took the wickets of Chris Gayle and Carlos Braithwaite of the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots.
His impressive pace and ability to swing the ball helped him get into the Windies team and debuted on the tour of India in 2018. He has also impressed so far at his maiden world cup.