By Brandon Corlette
The defending Women’s World T20 champions West Indies will defend their title in the 2018 Stand-alone International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World T20 tournament that is playing in the Caribbean.
Stafanie Taylor at a press conference at the Marriott Hotel in Guyana
On the eve of the first matches in Guyana, West Indies Captain Stafanie Taylor explained that her team were confident heading into this tournament. Taylor noted that prior to this tournament, the T20 International series against South Africa was successful for the Caribbean ladies with the highlight of the series being Hayley Matthews’s superb century in Barbados. The 27-year-old West Indies Captain, who has represented West Indies in over 200 matches, including 88 T20Is, when questioned, told this reporter at the press conference that her team’s fitness level was beyond par.
West Indies cricketers in the modern era have dominated T20 cricket, and this tournament will suit the attacking players who will showcase calypso-like cricket strokes throughout the tournament. In the bowling department, Captain Taylor commended the experienced Anisa Mohammed on her stellar performances in recent times. “The Trinidadian spinner, Mohammed had started playing since she was around age 15,” Taylor noted.
Since this tournament will be played in the Caribbean, the West Indies team will have the edge over other teams. “With Shenseea performing at the first match, this will help the girls in the team to be more pumped during the match against Bangladesh,” Taylor said.
Stunningly, the West Indies women’s team have not played an international match at Providence prior to the warm-up match they played a few days ago. But Taylor remained confident that her team were capable of making necessary adjustments despite the fact that they had not played at Providence as a side.
The West Indies women will play only one of the 11 matches scheduled at the National Stadium Providence. Shemaine Campbell, the lone Guyanese in the team, is an all-round package since she offers stability in the middle order and is an extraordinary outfielder and a useful wicket-keeper.
In closing, Taylor thanked the ICC for the initiative that it has taken to transport fans to witness the matches at the various venues. Caribbean fans will show much support, since cricket is more than a sport and is a lifestyle in the Region.
