Brief History of West Indies Women’s National Cricket Team:
The West Indies women’s cricket team, known as the Windies, is a combined team of players from the Caribbean, competing in international women’s cricket. The team is organized by the Cricket West Indies Cricket Board (CWI), a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), representing fifteen countries and territories.
In the inaugural edition of the World Cup in 1973, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, now part of the West Indies team, competed separately.
Historical Highlights – West Indies Women’s National Cricket Team:
Red-Ball History:
After the separate international debuts of West Indies teams in 1973, a combined West Indies team made its Test debut in 1976, almost 50 years after its male counterpart, against Australia at Jarrett Park, Montego Bay on 7–9 May 1976.
They hosted their first-ever Test series, captained by Louise Browne, against Australia in 1975–76, with both three-day matches ending in a draw. In 1976–77, the West Indies played their first away series, comprising six Test matches against India. They lost the fourth Test but won the sixth by an innings to level the series. The remaining games were drawn.
In 1979, the West Indies played their third Test series, this time away to England, losing the series 0-2 with one drawn match.
After a 24-year hiatus, the West Indies resumed Test cricket in 2003–04, captained by Stephanie Power, with a one-off four-day match against Pakistan, which ended in a draw. To date, the West Indies have not played another Test match.
One-Day International History:
In the 1973 World Cup, the West Indies did not compete as an individual unit. Instead, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago participated separately, and three West Indies players joined an International XI side. None of these teams performed particularly well, with the International XI finishing fourth, Trinidad and Tobago fifth, and Jamaica sixth.
The first One-Day Internationals (ODIs) played by a combined West Indian side were two games away to England during their 1979 tour. Captained by Leila Williams, they debuted at Lensbury Sports Ground, London, on 6 June 1979. England won the first ODI comfortably by eight wickets, and the West Indies leveled the series in the third ODI with a two-wicket win.
In 1993, West Indian players competed in the World Cup as part of a combined team for the second time. They finished 5th in the 8-team event with two wins to their name from eight outings.
During the 2002–03 season, the Sri Lankan women’s cricket team toured the West Indies and won a six-match ODI series 6-0. The West Indies’ closest match was the fourth, where they lost by only 9 runs. Later in 2003, the Windies achieved significant success, finishing second in the International Women’s Cricket Council Trophy, winning four out of five games. The event involved Ireland, the Windies, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Scotland, and Japan.
Twenty20 International History:
The West Indies played their first WT20I against Ireland at Kenure, Dublin, on 27 June 2008, led by Nadine George. They hosted their first WT20I against England at Basseterre on November 09, 2009, led by Merissa Aguilleira. They won the three-match T20I series 2-1.
The West Indies participated in the inaugural edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2009, hosted by England. Placed in Group A alongside New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa, they won one match against South Africa by 4 runs and did not progress further in the tournament.
Tournament Highlights – West Indies Women’s National Cricket Team
Women’s Cricket World Cup:
The West Indies women’s cricket team has had a varied history in the Women’s Cricket World Cup, their performance has seen a gradual improvement over the years. Starting with a 6th place finish in 1993, they dropped to 10th in 1997 but climbed back up to 5th in 2005. They maintained a middle-tier presence with another 6th place finish in 2009 and repeated this in 2017. Their most notable achievement came in 2013 when they reached the final and secured the runner-up position. In the latest tournament in 2022, they showcased their growth by reaching the semi-final and finishing 4th.
| YEAR | POSITION |
| 1993 | 6th |
| 1997 | 10th |
| 2005 | 5th |
| 2009 | 6th |
| 2013 | Runners- up |
| 2017 | 6th |
| 2022 | 4th -Semi-Finalist |
ICC Women’s World Twenty20:
In the ICC Women’s World Twenty20, the West Indies women demonstrated consistent competitive performance. They finished 5th in the inaugural 2009 tournament and reached the semi-finals in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2018, highlighting their ability in the shortest format of the game. Their pinnacle achievement came in 2016 when they were crowned champions, showcasing their prowess in the shortest format of the game. However, recent tournaments have seen them struggle to maintain that top form, with a 6th place finish in both 2020 and 2023.
| YEAR | POSITION |
| 2009 | 5th |
| 2010 | Semi-finalist |
| 2012 | Semi-finalist |
| 2014 | Semi-finalist |
| 2016 | Champions |
| 2018 | Semi-finalist |
| 2020 | 6th |
| 2023 | 6th |
2010 ICC Women’s Cricket Challenge:
The tournament was held in South Africa during the 2010–11 international season. The West Indies competed alongside South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Netherlands, and Ireland. The event took place in Potchefstroom from 6 to 16 October 2010. The six teams participated in a series of One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals.
In the ODI format, the West Indies won four out of five matches, finishing as runners-up with 8 points, losing only to South Africa by 6 wickets. In the Twenty20 International format, the West Indies were placed in Group A alongside South Africa and the Netherlands. They won against both teams and advanced to the final, competing against Sri Lanka and winning the title by 8 wickets. The West Indies’ Stafanie Taylor emerged as the tournament’s top scorer, accumulating 390 runs, including the only century of the competition.
Domestic Competitions:
Women’s Super 50 Cup (One Day):
This domestic tournament in the West Indies, previously known as the Women’s Cricket Federation Championships, began in the 1975-76 season. It features six teams: Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and Windward Islands. Jamaica is the current defending champion, while Trinidad and Tobago hold the record for the most titles, having won the tournament 13 times.
Twenty20 Blaze (T20):
The Twenty20 Blaze, formerly known as the West Indies Cricket Board Regional Women’s Twenty20 Championship, has been a pivotal tournament in Caribbean women’s cricket since its inception in 2012. Comprising six Caribbean teams, the Twenty20 Blaze follows a round-robin group stage format, where each team competes against the others.
The Women’s Caribbean Premier League:
The Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) is a significant milestone in women’s cricket in the Caribbean, aiming to showcase the talent and competitiveness within the region. The inaugural edition in 2022, hosted in Saint Kitts, featured three teams: Barbados Royals, Guyana Amazon Warriors, and Trinbago Knight Riders. This event set the stage for what has become an eagerly anticipated fixture in the cricket calendar. In 2023, the WCPL expanded its reach, with matches held in Barbados and Trinidad. This expansion not only broadened the tournament’s footprint but also provided more opportunities for local fans to engage with the sport. The defending champions, Trinbago Knight Riders, brought their experience and prowess to the tournament, setting the stage for intense competition among the participating teams. The runners-up of the 2022 edition, Barbados Royals, finished one better by clinching the trophy.
The players are selected through a draft system that showcases top talent from across the Caribbean, including stars like Deandra Dottin, Hayley Matthews, and Stafanie Taylor. Additionally, overseas players from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, and India enhance the WCPL with some of the world’s finest cricketers. Shreyanka Patil made history as the first Indian player to participate in the WCPL, roped in by the Guyana Amazon Warriors and emerged as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament.
