As the new academic year unfolds, we continue to celebrate our 2024 recruits and their remarkable journeys.
Five years ago, during a summer tour with the West Indies Under-15 cricket team, Solomon Bascombe stepped onto the Loughborough University campus to experience playing cricket in England for the first time.
Now, after recently graduating from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Community College, the talented fast bowler is set to return to England to attend the UK’s top-ranked university and pursue his Bachelor’s Degree in Sport and Exercise Science.
Having represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Windward Islands in various competitions at different age levels in recent years, Solomon will once again benefit from Loughborough’s elite sporting facilities and resources, this time as a student, as he works toward his long-term ambition of becoming a professional first-class cricketer.
In our latest interview, Solomon reflects on his cricketing journey, his decision to attend Loughborough, and what he looks forward to in this exciting new chapter of his life.
Meet Solomon
Studied and played cricket at Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Community College.
Represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Windward Islands in multiple tournaments.
Will be attending the UK’s top-ranked sporting university to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport and Exercise Science.
Can you tell us briefly about your cricket background and your experience in Trinidad and Tobago and representing Saint Vincent and the Grenadines?
“Representing Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has been an honour like no other thus far. From playing with my cousins on the street and in the nets in Trinidad to playing Kiddies Cricket, to learning at the Neil Williams Cricket Academy, then the Lennox John Cricket Academy and my cricket club, Victors, all back in Saint Vincent, my journey has been incredible.
At the different age levels, I believe I have represented SVG around nine times and have gone on to represent the Windward Islands five times and then the West Indies once, each time as a young opening bowler focused on helping my team.”
Solomon’s time at Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Community College was marked by outstanding achievements both academically and athletically. In addition to receiving a prestigious National Scholarship for his academic excellence, Solomon played a pivotal role in securing three National Under-15 Secondary Schools championships for his team. His exceptional performances earned him the SVG Young Cricketer of the Year Award in 2019 and again in 2022.
What is your proudest moment of your cricket career to date?
“Representing Trinidad and Tobago as a West Indies U-15 player in England is one of my proudest moments, especially with the full support of the Caribbean. I also cherish the memory of winning the Regional U-17 Rising Stars tournament in Trinidad only two years ago with the full support of my Trinidadian family.”
In 2019, Solomon traveled to England as part of the West Indies Under-15 team for its summer tour, a prestigious opportunity awarded to top performers in the West Indies Future Stars Under-15 Championship. One of the tour’s highlights was a match at Loughborough University, where Solomon experienced the world-class sporting facilities first-hand. It was during this visit that his ambition to study and compete in England truly ignited, marking the beginning of his journey.
What factors did you consider when selecting potential universities, both academically and athletically?
“Academically, I wanted a school that offered high levels of support to international students, ranked well in my field choice, had modern equipment and had up-to-date teaching methods.
Athletically, I looked for schools with copious amounts of practice and playing time, good facilities, access to physiotherapists, quality gyms and high-level coaches.”
A talented fast bowler, Solomon brings extensive experience from competing in national tournaments and tours across the West Indies, including the 2023 Windward Islands Super 50 tournament. With long-term ambitions to be a professional first-class cricket player, he has set his sights on securing a place in the U19 World Cup next year and he intends to take full advantage of the UK’s exceptional cricketing environment to achieve his goals.
What was it about Loughborough University that ultimately convinced you it was the right environment for both your education and athletic development?
“During my visit to the UK in 2019, I played at Loughborough University and trained in the high-performance centre there. It was an amazing experience. Hence, when it came time to find a university, I dug further into Loughborough, and it was clear that the university was the perfect fit for me.”
Solomon will be pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Sport and Exercise Science at Loughborough University, the UK’s number one ranked university for sport. As well as benefiting from access to world-class sporting facilities, including the renowned ECB National Cricket Performance Centre, Solomon will be supported by expert coaching staff, sports scientists, and performance analysts to help him reach his full potential.
Can you describe your experience working with our team during the university search and application process?
“Unfortunately, I didn’t hear about The Student Sport Company until after my acceptance to Loughborough. However, since then, the team has been the glue between Loughborough and myself and an incredible help in understanding parts of the Visa application process.
At no cost to their applicants, their services are more than worthwhile. From the vast knowledge, connections to coaches and overall inviting treatment, I can’t thank The Student Sport Company team enough.”
What are you most looking forward to ahead of your time in the UK?
“I think there may be too much to list at the moment. Both the university and the country are steeped with history and places to explore. The school has so many events to look forward to and societies that I am interested in.
I am looking forward to all of it!”
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