West Indies or as they are nicknamed-Windies, has been a full member of the ICC since 1926. Initially, the West Indies Team was divided into teams of different regions like Jamaica, Trinidad, and Tobago, etc. However, in 1975 the teams were merged and the Women’s West Indies Team finally made their debut. They played their first-ever ODI at the Lensbury Sports Ground in London vs the hosts on the 6th of June, 1979. Following this, they have played 189 more matches and recorded a total of 86 wins and 97 losses.
Most recently, they competed with Pakistan on the 14th of November at the National Stadium, Pakistan, and recorded a remarkable 6 wicket win with 36 balls remaining, winning the series 3-0. They won the previous two matches of the series by 45 and 37 runs. This was the last series that the Windies Women were scheduled to appear in before their match against the Ireland Women on the 23rd November in ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
Key Players – West Indies Women’s Cricket Team in ICC World Cup Qualifiers 2021
1. Stafanie Taylor
Batter. Bowler. Captain. Player of the Match. These are just some of the roles played by Taylor in the Windies’ latest victory against Pakistan on the 14th of November. In the first innings, she picked the crucial wicket of Pakistan wicket-keeper and opener Muneeba Ali and helped restrict them to 225/7. After this, she played a true captain’s knock, scoring 102 off 117, winning the match comfortably for her team. Since this is a very recent performance, and an impressive one, the Windies fans will be hoping that she can replicate this performance in the Qualifier and book a spot for the team in the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.
2. Hayley Matthews
Also a key pick in one of the matches against Pakistan, there will be eyes on Matthews who recently picked 4/26 in 9 overs on the 11th of November. This helped bowl out Pakistan for a cheap 116 after a poor Windies batting display too-scoring just 153 in 45.4 overs. She stepped up for her team in this challenging situation which is an important quality a top performer must possess. Windies fans will hope that she can carry this good form into the Qualifier tournament.
3. Deandra Dottin
Windies opener Deandra Dottin was adjudged the player of the match in the first match of the Pakistan tour in which she scored a scintillating 132 (146) at a respectable strike rate of 90.41. This anchored the team to a total of 253/8 which was 45 runs too many for Pakistan. These kinds of responsible knocks by top-order batters are essential for consistent success in an important tournament like the Qualifier they are about to play.
Importance – West Indies Women’s Cricket Team in ICC World Cup Qualifiers 2021
I’m sure you all can recall the heroics the Men’s West Indies Team used to be known for back in the day. They had created havoc by winning 2 back-to-back world cups, however, the best result the women’s team has achieved is the runners-up spot in 2013. Before and after this, they have not gotten any closer to the title but that certainly does not mean that they can’t. Winning the upcoming qualifier will not only present them with the opportunity to take a step towards this ultimate goal but also allow them to better their winning % and express themselves freely in a grand tournament.
Squad (*- Reserves) – West Indies Women’s Cricket Team in ICC World Cup Qualifiers 2021
Stafanie Taylor (c)
Anisa Mohammed (vc)
Aaliyah Alleyne
Shemaine Campbelle
Shamilia Connell
Deandra Dottin
Sheneta Grimmond
Chinelle Henry
Qiana Joseph
Kycia Knight
Kyshona Knight
Hayley Matthews
Chedean Nation
Shakera Selman
Rashada Williams
Cherry-Ann Fraser*
Shabika Gajnabi*
Karishma Ramharack*
Fixtures – West Indies Women’s Cricket Team in ICC World Cup Qualifiers 2021
West Indies vs Ireland – 23rd November
West Indies vs Sri Lanka – 27th November
West Indies vs Netherlands – 29th November
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