West Indies have been handed a major injury concern ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 after vice-captain Chinelle Henry was stretchered off the field during the team’s final warm-up match against Australia in Cardiff on June 10.
Henry suffered the injury while attempting a catch at long-on during Australia’s innings at Sophia Gardens. The all-rounder charged in to take a lofted shot from Georgia Voll off the bowling of Afy Fletcher, but appeared to lose her footing and landed awkwardly as she tried to complete the catch. Medical staff attended to the 29-year-old on the field before she was taken off on a stretcher, leaving West Indies awaiting an update on the extent of the injury just days before their tournament opener against New Zealand.
The incident overshadowed Australia’s six-wicket victory in their final warm-up fixture before the start of the World Cup. Voll starred with the bat, scoring a fluent 77, while Beth Mooney added 34 as Australia comfortably chased down their target of 131.
For the West Indies however, the bigger concern was Henry’s fitness. One of the side’s most experienced players, Henry has become a key figure in the Caribbean team’s setup thanks to her ability to contribute with both bat and ball. She also serves as vice-captain and is regarded as one of the squad’s most influential players. Her potential absence would be a significant setback for a West Indies side looking to make a strong start to the tournament. The Caribbean outfit has been drawn in Group 2 alongside England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland and Scotland, with only the top two teams progressing to the semi-finals.
Despite the defeat to Australia, captain Hayley Matthews said there were positives to take from the team’s warm-up campaign, although she acknowledged improvements would be needed once the tournament begins. “We have a lot of positives to take out of it still, but we’re still going to have to play some better cricket and be sharper when the World Cup comes around,” Matthews said.
West Indies showed flashes of promise during the warm-up matches but were unable to put together a complete performance against one of the strongest sides in the competition. Matthews believes her side is capable of raising its level when the tournament gets underway. “Hopefully we can do that when the real matches come about,” she added.
The timing of Henry’s injury is particularly concerning given her recent importance to the team. Over the past two years, she has developed into one of West Indies’ most reliable all-rounders, often providing crucial runs in the middle order and valuable breakthroughs with the ball. West Indies will now await the results of further medical assessments before determining whether Henry will be available for their opening match against New Zealand on Saturday.
With the World Cup set to begin this week, Matthews and her team will be hoping the injury is not serious and that one of their key players can return quickly. For now, all eyes remain on Henry’s recovery as West Indies prepare for a crucial start to their campaign.
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