Delray Rawlins has come a long way as a cricketer in just a few short years, from playing for St George’s in the Mini Cup Match in 2007 to Colts Cup Match and now Cup Match.

He has also already featured for the Bermuda team — and he is still a few days away from his 17th birthday!

It was not that long ago that the youngster was playing in the Mini Cup Match at Devonshire Recreation Club and dreaming of playing in the main event.

He was 9 then and by the age of 15 had already made his Bermuda debut during a training trip to Barbados last year before playing for the Island in the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division Three Tournament.

The left-hand batsman and bowler has been a member of the National Academy Under-13 programme from the age of ten and is in Guyana at present playing for the ICC Americas team in the West Indies Cricket Board Regional Under-19 One-Day Tournament.

Next week he will represent Bermuda in the ICC Americas Under-17 Tournament against the United States and Canada to be staged at North Field, National Sports Centre.

Long before he delighted the Cup Match crowd by scoring 55 not out on his debut and taking two Somerset wickets in the first innings, Rawlins, who studies in England, was being touted as a future Bermuda player.

“I have worked with and coached internationals and first-class cricketers in both Australia and the West Indies and Delray is equal to many of those players in his natural ability and raw talent,” David Moore, the former Bermuda coach, said last year.

“I’m confident that if he applies himself fully he could play first-class cricket in the UK and represent Bermuda with honour and success for a long time.”

Dean Minors, the former Bermuda wicketkeeper and a member of the St George’s selection committee that unanimously chose Rawlins for his Cup Match debut, believes Bermuda will ultimately benefit from having the likes of Rawlins, Terryn Fray, Tre Manders, Kamau Leverock and Greg Maybury being based in England.

“His future looks very promising and looking at his character and what he has developed into as a cricketer, he has shown signs of maturity at a very early age,” Minors said. “He still has quite a bit to learn about the game, but he’s on the right path.

“Remember, you don’t start developing in this game until around 28; all you’re doing right now is showing promise. Allan Douglas told me that years ago.”

Minors, who was in the St George’s Cup Match team when they had left-arm spinners such as Maxwell Curtis, Eugene Foggo and Stan Smith, believes that Rawlins can fill those boots.

“From seeing him at the Mini Cup Match camp at 9 years old to what he’s developed into right now, it puts a huge smile on my face.”

Rawlins belied his tender years by stroking seven fours and two sixes as he brought up his fifty in Cup Match with a six over mid-wicket off seam bowler Maybury. Nerves never seemed to come into the equation.

“My eyes light up every time I see a left-handed batsman anyway, so he would have been highly recognised in my eyes,” Minors said. “I just love his approach to the game, his mannerism and the way he acts.

“He’s definitely one to watch and, if given the opportunity to stay overseas like Leverock, I would encourage him to do it.

“We need more and more youngsters like him to stay over there. If we could have six or seven guys in England playing professionally, we would do well internationally and go back to Division One.

“Although he’s played Cup Match and scored fifty, I want him to be reminded that ‘You’ve not arrived yet’.

“You’re on the right track but haven’t arrived yet until you become a professional. And professionalism is just a state of mind. There’s nothing better than them being in a professional environment to change their mentality.

“I’m glad to see a left-arm spinner because St George’s always had left-arm spinners and then this young guy pops up. I’m pleased to see that he will follow in the footsteps of a Stan Smith, Eugene Foggo and Maxwell Curtis. He also has to recognise that he is coming behind some great guys like Clarence Parfitt.

“He has a long career ahead of him and I would tell him to knock those records down and be the best left-arm spinner he can be. I know his dad and know that he will make sure he stays level-headed.”