As teenagers, first cousins Chris and Allan Douglas played fierce games of backyard cricket for family bragging rights.
This week they will take their rivalry to a new level when they suit up on opposing sides at Cup Match.
“This is what all those years in the backyard were all about,” said Allan, 23, who will be making his debut for 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. Cricket royalty runs in the blood of both youngsters and now they have very big pads to fill. Chris calls Allan Douglas, Sr. uncle and Allan, Jr. calls him dad.
Both Chris and “Baby Allan”, as he is affectionately known, have heard the stories of the older Douglas bursting onto the scene in 1978, Cricketer of the Year in 1983 and Cup Match MVP in 1990. His sports resume is almost legendary.
However, for the young cricketers, having a legend looking over their shoulders has been more of a blessing than a burden. 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 he remembers his old man’s sage advice. Both of them will be taking those words on the field with them come Thursday.
While Allan is making his debut this year, Chris is already a veteran of two previous Cup Matches.
And each year he reliably follows a very precise post-game routine. Immediately after the last ball he 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.
Both cousins had a laugh about that one, but Chris struck 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.
Owen Darrell teaches history and social studies at The Berkeley Institute.
