Shai Diego Hope (born 10 November 1993) is a right-handed wicket‑keeper batsman from Barbados who represents the West Indies in all formats.
Known for his elegant strokeplay and composure under pressure, Hope has become one of the most accomplished limited‑overs players for his country.
🎓 Education & Early Career
• Attended Queen’s College, Barbados and later Bede’s Senior School, East Sussex, England, on a two‑year scholarship where he captained the school XI to a national 20/20 final .
• Represented Barbados in domestic cricket from 2013, earning spotlight after scoring a double‑hundred against Windward Islands .
🏏 International Debut & Milestones
• Test debut: 1 May 2015 vs England (Bridgetown) .
• ODI debut: 16 Nov 2016 vs Sri Lanka (Harare); scored his maiden ODI century (101) in just his second match, earning Man of the Match in a tied game .
• T20I debut: 29 Dec 2017 vs New Zealand (Nelson) .
🏅 Achievements & Records
• First-class: First player since 1890s to score centuries in both innings at Headingley; key innings of 147 & undefeated 118 secured West Indies’ first win over England in England since 2000 .
• 2017 Wisden Cricketer of the Year for his special performance on the England tour .
• Cricket West Indies Awards (2018, 2019): Test Cricketer of the Year, ODI Cricketer of the Year, Men’s Cricketer of the Year .
ODI records:
– Fastest WI to 2,000 ODI runs in just 47 innings .
– Part of record 365‑run opening stand vs Ireland (2019) .
– Third‑fastest to 4,000 ODI runs and fastest West Indian to 5,000 ODI runs, equalling Sir Vivian Richards’ record .
• ICC ODI Team of the Year: Named in both 2020 and 2022 squads .
• Century count: 17 ODI hundreds and 2 Test hundreds; highest ODI score of 170 vs Ireland and highest Test score of 147 at Headingley .
🧮 Career Stats (approx.)
Format Matches Runs Avg 100s
Test ~39 ~2,100 ~31 2
ODI ~103 ~3,350 ~51 11
T20I ~43 ~1,157 ~34 1
📸 Social Media Presence
• Instagram: @shaidhope – ~195 K followers .
• Active on Twitter and Facebook with a combined following estimated at ~250 K .
⭐ Why Shai Hope Is Beloved
1. Classically stylish: Praised for elegant technique, especially his cover drive .
2. Clutch performer: Consistently delivers under pressure—two centuries at Headingley, fast run milestones.
3. Reliable opener: Anchors scores with long, high partnerships, leading the ODI batting line-up.
4. Role model: From Barbados to global cricket, he inspires with talent, temperament, and humility.
5. Tech-savvy connect: Engages fans via social media, making him relatable beyond the pitch.