ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Meet Kelvin Pitman, and you’d never guess he once told Courtney Walsh he was coming for his record.
Soft-spoken. Grounded. A man whose ideal day involves a good breakfast, YouTube videos, family time, and relaxing at home. That’s the Antiguan fast bowler off the field. On it? A different story entirely.
Pitman has spent years grinding in the unglamorous trenches of sport, long before the cameras arrived, honing his craft while studying the greats.
Growing up in Bethesda Village, his foundation was family first, always, with his community playing a vital supporting role.
“They always pushed me to do better, no matter the circumstance, and always believed in me,” Pitman shared. “When I felt down, they gave me the motivation and encouragement to go out and do better.”
A lifelong cricket fanatic, his journey to the professional ranks truly ignited when he was selected for the Antigua Under-17 side.
“It was a great feeling traveling overseas and being around the guys,” he recalled. “That’s what propelled me to like the sport more and to put my all into it. That’s where I really started.”
When asked about the figures who shaped his cricket life, Pitman hesitated to single out names, but willingly offered countryman and West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph.
“To call names now might be a bit biased, but along the way, I’ve worked with quite a few people who have improved my game and me as a person,” Pitman said. “The way Alzarri goes about his game at the international level, and even when he’s back home playing club cricket or training with the Leeward Islands, that’s something I really want to mimic going forward.”
As a child, watching peers pull on the Leeward Islands shirt was a dream come true. At the 2026 West Indies Championship, that dream became reality. Pitman made his debut against Trinidad and Tobago at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium — and promptly took six wickets.
“Taking six wickets on my debut, I didn’t think that would ever happen,” he admitted. “I’m really grateful for that opportunity. It’s a debut I won’t forget.”
Athletes know that fans rarely see the difficult moments behind the scenes. Pitman, known as “Kello,” is refreshingly honest about the unseen battles.
“The setbacks, the failures, long nights, the days where you train harder than anyone else and still not see the results that you want, I think that’s the hardest part of the journey,” he revealed. “Staying disciplined and motivated along the way, that’s what pushed me to continue.”
His philosophy is simple: “Everyone will get the same opportunities, but once you make use of every opportunity and give it your all, that’s what separates those who are successful and those who are not.”
When fellow Antiguans hear the name Kelvin Pitman, he wants them to think of a “hardworking, respectful guy that always wants to do better and elevate himself.”
Judging by his work ethic, humility, and respect for the game, Antigua has another son in whom they should be well pleased.
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