Dominic Drakes: Biography, Cricket Career & CPL Journey
Dominic Drakes is a talented all-round cricketer from Barbados. He bowls left-arm medium-fast and can also hit the ball hard when batting at the lower order. He has played in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), where his performances have helped his team win important matches. While playing for the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, he became known for finishing games with the bat and bowling tight overs.
He worked hard in domestic cricket before reaching big T20 leagues around the world. His journey from local matches to international T20 tournaments inspires many young cricketers. This article explains his life story, cricket journey, and achievements in an easy way.
Early Life & Background
Dominic Conneil Drakes was born on February 6, 1998, in Barbados. He is the son of former West Indies cricket team fast bowler Vasbert Drakes.
Because he grew up in a cricket family, he became interested in the game at a young age. He learned both batting and bowling while growing up. He bowls left-arm medium-fast and bats right-handed, skills he started developing in his youth.
Dominic played for Barbados cricket team in age-group tournaments and performed well. His father’s cricket career inspired him to keep improving. Even when he faced challenges, he kept working hard and became stronger as a player.
Domestic Cricket Career
He started his first-class cricket career for the Barbados cricket team in the 2017–18 season. He played regularly in the Regional Four-Day Championship. Drakes has played 6 first-class matches so far. In these games, he scored 60 runs with an average of 20.00. His highest score was 33 runs. He also took 4 wickets with a bowling average of 34.25.
Dominic Drakes performed in List A cricket from 2018 onward. Drakes also played List A matches for the Barbados Pride. In these domestic tournaments, he showed his skills as an all-rounder by helping his team with both batting and bowling. He has played 47 matches in List A cricket. In these games, he scored 403 runs with an average of 16.79. He also took 30 wickets with an average of 28.11. His best bowling performance in this format is 4 wickets for 34 runs.
In 2022, he signed with Yorkshire County Cricket Club for the county cricket season in England. He played well and helped different teams with his performances.
Domestic Career Stats
| Format | Matches | Runs | Batting Average | Highest Score | Wickets | Bowling Average | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Class | 6 | 60 | 20.00 | 33 | 4 | 34.25 | 2/11 |
| List A | 47 | 403 | 16.79 | 40* | 30 | 28.11 | 4/34 |
International Cricket Career
Dominic Drakes made his T20 International debut for the West Indies cricket team in 2021. He has played 10 T20I matches so far.
He also played 3 One Day International (ODI) matches, but he did not have much success in them. His chance to play for the national team came after he performed well in domestic cricket.
In international matches, he bowled carefully and sometimes scored useful runs in the lower order. He has represented the West Indies in different cricket series.
However, he does not always get selected for the team. Still, his strong performances in franchise leagues help keep him in the race for future selection.
International Career Stats
| Format | Matches | Runs | Batting Average | Highest Score | Wickets | Bowling Average | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20I | 10 | 15 | 3.00 | 5 | 6 | 48.33 | 1/19 |
| ODI | 3 | 11 | 5.50 | – | 2 | 36.50 | – |
Dominic Drakes CPL Career
He plays very well in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). He started his CPL career in 2018 with the Barbados Tridents. In 2019, he joined the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and became an important all-rounder for the team. He helps the team with both batting and bowling.
Drakes has played more than 35 matches in the CPL. When batting, he scores runs quickly with a strike rate of over 131. With the ball, he often takes important wickets that help his team.
Debut in CPL
He played his first match in the Caribbean Premier League in 2018 for the Barbados Tridents. In his early games, he mainly helped the team with bowling.
These matches gave him his first experience in franchise cricket. However, he did not get many chances to play that season. Because of the limited opportunities in 2018, he moved to the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in 2019 to get more chances to play and show his skills.
CPL 2025 Performances
In CPL 2025, Dominic Drakes played for the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. He scored 21 runs in the few chances he got to bat, with an average of 21.00.
He also took 2 wickets while bowling and kept the runs under control with a good economy rate. During the season, he mostly helped the team in supporting roles, contributing with both batting and bowling when needed.
Notable performances
Some key moments define Dominic Drakes’s CPL career and highlight his impact in the Caribbean Premier League:
- Scored an unbeaten 48 off 24 balls in the 2021 final, guiding the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots to their maiden title.
- Took 16 wickets in the 2021 season, finishing as the team’s leading wicket-taker.
- Delivered explosive finishing knocks during difficult chases across multiple seasons.
- Claimed key middle-over wickets to shift momentum in tight matches.
- Provided crucial all-round balance during playoffs and finals, contributing with both bat and ball.
Dominic Drakes CPL Stats
| Season | Team | Matches | Innings (Bat) | Runs | Highest Score | Batting Average | Strike Rate | 4s | 6s | Overs | Runs Conceded | Wickets | Best Bowling | Bowling Average | Economy | Strike Rate (Bowl) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Barbados Tridents | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 6.0 | 73 | 0 | 0/37 | – | 12.17 | – |
| 2019 | St Kitts and Nevis Patriots | 4 | 2 | 36 | 34* | 36.00 | 189.47 | 3 | 3 | 10.0 | 90 | 3 | 1/20 | 30.00 | 9.00 | 20.0 |
| 2020 | St Kitts and Nevis Patriots | 2 | 2 | 15 | 8 | 7.50 | 107.14 | 2 | 0 | 6.0 | 60 | 2 | 1/25 | 30.00 | 10.00 | 18.0 |
| 2021 | St Kitts and Nevis Patriots | 11 | 5 | 102 | 48* | 25.50 | 161.90 | 6 | 7 | 40.0 | 195 | 16 | 3/26 | 12.19 | 9.29 | 15.0 |
| 2023 | St Kitts and Nevis Patriots | 8 | 6 | 68 | 29* | 68.00 | 109.67 | 4 | 4 | 20.2 | 228 | 7 | 2/37 | 32.57 | 11.21 | 17.4 |
| 2024 | St Kitts and Nevis Patriots | 4 | 4 | 34 | 17 | 8.50 | 91.89 | 3 | 1 | 10.4 | 147 | 1 | 1/30 | 147.00 | 13.78 | 64.0 |
| 2025 | St Kitts and Nevis Patriots | 4 | 3 | 21 | 20* | 21.00 | 140.00 | 2 | 1 | 6.0 | 88 | 2 | 1/8 | 43.50 | 10.87 | 24.0 |
Cricket Achievements
Drakes achieved several important milestones early in his career. He helped the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots win their first-ever title in the Caribbean Premier League in 2021. Additionally, he played a decisive role in the final with an unbeaten 48 runs, guiding the team to victory.
That same season, Drakes also topped the wicket charts for the Patriots, proving his value as a reliable all-rounder. Beyond the CPL, he has represented teams such as Yorkshire County Cricket Club in English county cricket and the Colombo Stars in franchise leagues.
Moreover, Drakes earned international recognition by representing the West Indies cricket team in T20 Internationals. He continues to feature in global T20 leagues, and his all-round abilities with bat and ball suggest more success ahead.
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