SAVAR, Bangladesh, CMC- Cold weather, missing players and the failure of new players to raise their game are the main reasons West Indies Women suffered a whitewash against New Zealand in the recent three-match one-day series and five-match T20 series, head coach Sherwin Campbell has said.
The absence of aggressive batsman Deandra Dottin due to a suspension and Stafanie Taylor who missed most of the New Zealand tour because of injury affected the West Indies Women who struggled badly on the tour, Campbell said.
The two players are among the best in the world with Dottin having the distinction of being the first woman to score a century in T20 cricket.
“It was the first time the team played in New Zealand so it was a new experience for them same as the England tour where you havea bunch of new players going for the first time.. it was quite cold as well ..I think they put us in the coldest part of New Zealand,” said Campbell.
“Obviously we were missing Dottin on that tour and Taylor was injured for the majority of the tour as well so it was difficult at that stage and the new players really needed to step up and make a name for themselves which they did not do but they learned a lot from that tour and hopefully they would carry into this world cup”.
But in an encouraging start to their preparations for the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 tournament West Indies Women defeated South Africa Women by 52 runs on Tuesday in a warm-up match.
West Indies have been pitted in Group B, alongside England, India, Sri Lanka and hosts Bangladesh, for the March 23 to April 6 event.
Two years ago in Sri Lanka, West Indies Women reached the semi-finals before being beaten by eventual champions Australia.
“We have a very good chance, we have been to the semi-finals. We are in a fairly tough group as well. We have a few Asian teams, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh who is playing at home so we got to go out there and play to the best of our ability in every game ,” said the West Indies Women coach.
“Once we turn up every game to play am sure we can win. So we have to believe that and go out there and play positive with every game we play. Once we play to our best of our ability we have an excellent chance of
winning”.
West Indies Women play their second and final warm-up match against Australia tomorrow, while South Africa takes on Bangladesh on the same day.
