The upcoming West Indies tour of England kicking off from the 21st of this month will finally see a return on International Women’s Cricket. The 5-match T20I series will be hosted in a span of 9 days in the bio-secure environment of Derby’s home ground, Incora County Ground.
The third T20 will clash with the final weekend of ECB’s Big Cricket Month – an event hosted to celebrate and honor women’s cricket. Owing to this event, the third T20I will be broadcasted on free-to-air television, making it accessible to everyone who owns a TV in England and Wales.
The 3rd T20I on 26th September (Saturday) between @englandcricket and @windiescricket will be simulcast live on the @BBC and @SkySports, the first time women’s international cricket in the UK has been on free-to-air television since the 1993 Women’s World Cup final. #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/JBrekz0zO3
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) August 26, 2020
West Indies will take the field for the first time since their disappointing exit before the knockouts – losing their last must-win game of the group stages to Australia by 46 runs. The Aussie women went on to win that World Cup, coming up victorious against India in the finals. The women from the Caribbean will definitely be looking to avenge some of those moments on the return of women’s cricket.
Deandra Dottin, one of the most explosive batsmen of the women’s game and a world-class fast bowler to go along with it, spoke to ESPNCricinfo in an interview. “I’m feeling pretty good at this moment. It’s been a long time I’ve been out. I’ve been working on specific stuff, as in strengthening my injury, getting back out there. But all in all, I’m actually feeling pretty good, and glad to be here in England to play this series,” the vice-captain said.
Dottin has played only 3 international matches since her return from a shoulder injury to last year’s T20 WC in Australia and will be looking to bounce back after the extended leave.
Reminiscing on the disappointing run in last year’s World Cup, Dottin said, “To me, the girls were pretty good, but I will say that that time wasn’t our time. We just needed to go back to the drawing board and watch over the footage, or where we went wrong, and just go from there.” West Indies’ coach for the World Cup had described the team’s performance, a tad bit unfairly, as “timid” and possessing a “fear factor.”
However, Dottin remains hopeful, “It’s okay to accept failure but it is how you bounce back.” Besides, the explosive all-rounder spoke on her delight at the return of women’s cricket. “It’s very good for getting some cricket with what’s going on with Covid-19 and stuff. But I think is a good step to actually encourage other teams or show them that we definitely have safety and they are well-taking care of us in this COVID time, so you can actually not panic and just make a move.”
The Caribbean team was invited at the last minute after the South African outfit had to cancel their trip due to the Government’s safety regulations. The hastily arranged series has been pulled off very effectively till now, with the West Indian girls arriving on English shores on Monday.
“It’s been an honour and a privilege. We definitely take the invitation from England because we were actually so excited. Yeah, it is a last-minute thing that has been put in place, but we actually made it, and were open to travel,” the 29-year old in her interview.
Dottin also spoke about her excitement for one of the matches to be broadcasted for free and, in turn, reach a vast audience. “It’s very important. the games are televised so it will get people’s attention on the game and how women’s cricket is actually played” she said, signing off.
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