Fresh off an impressive 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup campaign in the United Arab Emirates, the West Indies women’s team is set to return to action with an away series against India. The series, running from December 15 to 27, 2024, will feature three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) and three One-Day Internationals (ODIs). Ahead of this important tour, Cricket West Indies has announced their 15-player squad.
Following back-to-back sixth place finishes at the Women’s T20 World Cups, the West Indies made a remarkable turnaround by advancing to the semi-finals in the 2024 edition. At the heart of this resurgence was the return of Deandra Dottin to the T20I team. Dottin, who had announced a surprise retirement in August 2022 and relocated to Canada, is now also named in the ODI squad. Meanwhile, Stafanie Taylor, who played a pivotal role in their World Cup success while battling injury, has been rested for the India tour.
Dottin shone at the 2024 T20 World Cup, amassing 120 runs from five outings at an impressive strike rate of 162.16, while also claiming a four-wicket haul. She carried this form into the 2024 Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), scoring 148 runs at a strike rate of 151.02 from nine outings and picking up nine wickets at an economy rate of 8.51. Now set for her first ODI appearance since March 2022, Dottin brings a wealth of experience, with 3727 runs from 135 ODIs at an average of 30.54 and 72 wickets from 94 outings at an economy rate of 4.87.
The West Indies will be without the seasoned Stafanie Taylor, whose stellar career boasts 5691 runs and 155 wickets from 160 ODIs, along with 3426 runs and 98 wickets from 125 T20Is. Taylor is still recovering from the knee injury sustained during the 2024 T20 World Cup, where she missed one game but bravely played through pain to contribute crucial runs.
Meanwhile, the squad announcement also marks the return of pacer Shabika Gajnabi and keeper-batter Rashada Williams, both of whom were absent from the T20 World Cup squad.
West Indies ODI and T20I squad for the India tour:
Hayley Matthews (C), Shemaine Campbelle (VC), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Nerissa Crafton, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Shabika Gajnabi, Chinelle Henry, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Rashada Williams
Notably, Nerrisa Crafton is the only uncapped player in the squad, although she featured in the 2024 T20 World Cup warm-up games. Ashmini Munisar has a chance to make her ODI return for the first time since June 2023, while Shabika Gajnabi could play her first T20I since October 2023.
This will be the West Indies’ third consecutive ODI series in the subcontinent, having played Pakistan in April, winning 3-0, and Sri Lanka in June, where they lost 0-3. All-rounder and skipper Hayley Matthews will be determined to lead a turnaround and extend their T20 World Cup momentum.
She will find much-needed support from seasoned batters Shemaine Campbelle, Deandra Dottin, and Shamilia Connell, along with spinners Afy Fletcher and Karishma Ramharack. Emerging talents Zaida James and Qiana Joseph will also be players to watch in this series.
A nine-day camp in India will precede the 6-match series, which kicks off with a three-match T20I series in Navi Mumbai on December 15, 17, and 19, followed by the ODIs in Vadodara on December 22, 24, and 27. With another World Cup scheduled in India later next year, this series will offer valuable insight and experience for the touring contingent.
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