The land known for its production of raw pace has seen some eventual growth in the spinning department also. Gudakesh Motie, the slow left-arm orthodox bowler, is one of the emerging players who can certainly boost the spin attack.
Motie was a part of the West Indies U-19 squad during the 2014 U-19 World Cup in UAE. In the following year, Motie made his first-class debut for Guyana. In only his second game against Windward Islands, Motie picked up 11 wickets and was named the Player of the Match for his remarkable spell. There was no stopping Motie after that, as he continued to pick plenty of wickets.
Motie made an impact in the List A format as well. He was the leading wicket-taker in the Super50 tournament and won the Sir Curtly Ambrose award for picking up 17 wickets. In 2021, Motie also signed a contract with Guyana Amazon Warriors for CPL 2021. All his hard work and consistent performance resulted in him getting selected for the national team during Bangladesh's visit in 2022 - almost after six months he made his T20I debut.
Motie made his T20I debut in December 2021 against Pakistan. He was named in the West Indies' ODI squad for their series against Ireland the same month, though he had to wait until July 2022 to make his ODI debut against Bangladesh.
In May 2022, Motie scored his maiden century in first-class cricket, an unbeaten 110 against Barbados in the 2021-22 West Indies Championship, showcasing his abilities as a lower-order batter. The following month, he was named in the West Indies' Test squad for their series against Bangladesh and made his Test debut.
The defining moment of Motie's career came in February 2023 during the Test series against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. He produced a match-winning performance with figures of 13 for 99, which remains his career-best in first-class cricket. More significantly, this became the best bowling performance by a West Indies spinner in Test cricket overall, surpassing a record that had stood for over 70 years. Sonny Ramadhin's 11 for 152 against England in 1950 had been the previous best, making Motie's achievement truly historic.
In December 2023, Motie was named in the West Indies squad for the Test series against Australia, a significant recognition of his standing in the Test format. His consistent performances in domestic cricket and international appearances cemented his position as the first-choice spinner for West Indies.
In May 2024, Motie was selected for the West Indies squad for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament. His inclusion reflected the team management's faith in his ability to perform on the biggest stages.
Motie has been a regular feature in the Caribbean Premier League, representing Guyana Amazon Warriors since 2021. His economical bowling and ability to pick up wickets in the middle overs have made him a valuable asset in T20 franchise cricket. He has also played for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in various franchise tournaments, expanding his experience in different conditions.
Motie was once again selected for West Indies' squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, held in India and Sri Lanka. The tournament proved to be a showcase of his skills in the shortest format. in the Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Motie produced a stellar bowling performance. He finished with figures of 4 for 28 in four overs, striking twice in as many balls in the 11th over to leave Zimbabwe gasping.
