Cricket West Indies (CWI) has undertaken a pioneering initiative through a specialized Women’s Academy High-Performance Skills Camp on March 18 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua, aiming to nurture and hone the skills of top emerging female cricketers across the region.
The intensive nine-day training camp, stretched between March 18 and March 27, brought together 15 players from the Academy and franchise teams. Under the guidance of a seasoned coaching staff, led by West Indies Senior Women’s Head Coach Shane Deitz, the participants engaged in rigorous skill-building sessions to improvise their game.
The camp commenced with an inaugural ceremony at Coolidge Cricket Ground, featuring speeches from key figures in West Indies cricket. Leon Kuma Rodney, Chair of CWI’s Women’s Cricket Transformation Committee, addressed the gathering alongside Enoch Lewis, Chair of CWI’s Cricket Development and Performance Committee; Dwain Gill, High-Performance Manager at Cricket West Indies; and Women’s Head Coach Shane Deitz.
This initiative united a total of 15 players, including 12 contracted under the CWI Academy program and three franchise players: Earnisha Fontaine from Dominica, Nerissa Crafton representing St. Lucia, and Sheneta Grimmond from Guyana.
Players invited for the camp:
Asabi Callender, Jahzara Claxton, Nerissa Crafton, Earnisha Fontaine, Realeanna Grimmond, Sheneta Grimmond, Brianna Harricharan, Shawnisha Hector, Trishan Holder, Djenaba Joseph, Nyia Latchman, Samara Ramnath, Shunelle Sawh, Steffie Soogrim, Kate Wilmott
Appreciating the initiative, CWI Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe said, “This Women’s Academy High-Performance Camp focuses on alignment. It represents a crucial investment in the future of West Indies cricket by uniting our most promising talent and regional coaches with the Women’s Head Coach, establishing a cohesive approach to player development that aligns with the senior team brand.”
Miles also stated that while the technical skills these young women develop at the camp are important, the ability of regional coaches to support women players in their territories is equally valuable. He emphasized that their vision is to create a sustainable pathway that consistently produces world-class cricketers capable of competing at the highest level, and initiatives like this play a crucial role in that strategy.
The training program aimed at covering key aspects of the game, with dedicated sessions for all three facets of the game- batting, bowling, and fielding. Players also involved themselves in scenario-based drills to enhance their decision-making under crunch situations, sharpen their tactical sporting awareness, and refine their game strategies.
In addition, strength and conditioning training were also incorporated to enhance overall fitness levels and minimize the risk of injury. Aside from technical skill acquisition, the camp emphasized the development of mental toughness and the enhancement of players’ tactical awareness, preparing them for success in top-level competitions.
The camp drew curtains with competitive matches played within the group of players on March 26 and 27, giving players the opportunity to apply their training drill in real-match situations while giving coaches the gauge to judge the performance of the players.
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