No batsman can score 495 runs made up in part with two innings of over 50 and three centuries, (100 not out vs UWI, 105 vs Pickwick and 104 vs Police) in a series without drawing attention to himself. So, few people should be surprised that Jai-Bari Yarde has the attention of selectors and has been called up for national trials.

Jai-Bari Yarde is the hard-hitting opening batsman for Empire Elite team. It is upon his shoulders that the team has had its winning way in this year’s touraments. 

 Who is Jai-Bari Yarde and where has he come from? He is no newcomer to cricket, having started playing the game as a fast bowler at the Charles F. Broome’s Primary School with intentions to emulate his bowling heroes, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, Jai-Bari has spent many hours practicing his fast-bowling skills. His interest and efforts were noticed by the school’s Physical Education (PE) teacher Mr. Harbin who soon enrolled him in Herman Griffith primary school cricket. He continued his fast-bowling ways into his secondary school years playing for the Foundation School.

A knee injury while playing for Barbados Cricket League (BCL) began the transition from bowling to batting. Jai-Bari always wanted to be a bowler but quickly adjusted to batting. He developed his naturally aggressive style of batting by playing lots of tape ball cricket. In this type of cricket, a batsman must develop super-fast hand and eye coordination for in many cases the surfaces and the length of the pitches are not standard. Cricket is very often about making the most out of an opportunity. Jai-Bari got an unexpected opportunity to open for the BCL team. He knew he was under pressure to perform well. In the game which was against St. Catherine, he made ninety runs. To prove that his maiden knock as an opener was not a fluke, he scored a half-century in both innings in the next game against Wanderers. From the BCL he went on to play for Wildey and it was there that he defined himself as an established batsman.

In 2017 Jai-Bari joined the Empire Club he found the going rough as it was difficult to maintain a play in the elite division team and he often found himself playing in lower divisions. He admitted that he went through a period of re-examining his batting style. After adjusting the approach to his batting, Jai-Bari noticed improvements and is now pleased to be getting bigger scores.

This year has seen the rewards for his persistence. His returns with the bat have placed him at the top of the heap and a selection for the national team trials. With Jai-Bari’s current form, they are few players who should earn a place as a batsman before him. He is aware that at 34 years his age can work against him, but he is confident that he can perform at the national level if given the chance to do so. 

Making the most of an opportunity is in Jai-Bari Yarde’s cricket DNA and given the purple patch that he is in no one should be surprised to see him in a Barbados team. (Article & pics by C.Williams)