Cousins Square Off On Country's Biggest Stage

As teenagers, first cousins Chris and Allan Douglas played fierce games of backyard cricket for family bragging rights.  This week each of them suits up to play in the Cup Match Classic against each other for the first time.

“This is what all those years in the backyard were all about,” said Allan, 23 of St. George's.  “Cup Match was always our ultimate goal.  Not necessarily to play against each other, it just worked out like this.”

Chris, 20 of Somerset, said: “This isn’t any different.  Cricket is cricket and the objective is the same.  I just hope we both live up to expectations.”

The expectations game may be bigger than the actual game – for both men.  Chris calls Allan Douglas, Sr. uncle and Allan, Jr. calls him dad.  Cricket royalty runs in the blood of both youngsters and now they have very big pads to fill.  Both Chris and “Baby Allan”, as he is affectionately known, have heard the stories of the older Douglas bursting onto the scene 1978, Cricketer of the Year in 1983 and Cup Match MVP in 1990.  His sports resume is very impressive, almost legendary.

However, for both fairly green cricketers, having a legend looking over their shoulders has been more of a blessing than a burden.  In fact, Allan, Jr. says the cricket advice from dad is always the same whether he’s talking to a son or a nephew.

“’Stay straight, bat long, minimize distractions, have fun and everything should work itself out,’” is how Allan, Jr. remembers his old man’s sage advice.  Both of them will be taking those words on the field with them come Thursday.

To talk with Allan and Chris (left to right in photo above), it’s difficult to know which is more experienced.  Chris doesn’t talk a big game, but he’s got more experience.  This year’s Classic will be his third.  And each year he reliably follows a very precise post-game routine.  Immediately after the last ball Chris Douglas can be seen in the latest fashionable outfits, having ditched the Cricket Whites and blazer faster than Superman in a phone booth.  For Chris, fashion is like a form of expression.

That’s not Allan’s style; he says champions keep on their uniform after battle.   He intends to go with the gear all night long as he parties with the Cup all the way back to St. George’s.  Both cousins had a laugh about that one, but Chris got the final blow when he said: “the girls like it when you change up.” 

Not since five years ago at the National Sports Centre for a high-profile youth tournament have Allan and Chris faced off against each other on such an important stage.  Allan got the better of Chris that day.  Now the two of them are climbing the most significant sporting stage Bermuda has to offer.  They make the climb together with a boyhood love of the game, with a respect for history and with the sage advice of a legend.  Carrying those assets one thing is clear: the stage is big enough for the both of them.

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Owen Darrell is a teacher of history and social studies at The Berkeley Institute