Guyanese left-arm spinner, Kaysia Schultz is working overtime to secure a spot on the West Indies women’s side for both International Cricket Council’s 50-over and T20 World Cups over the next two years.
“My goal is to solidify myself into the West Indies senior women’s side for the upcoming World Cups,” Schultz told Stabroek Sport.
She added, “My World Cup aspiration is to play competitive cricket. Personally, when I do well, automatically, the team does well and when it happens, my heart is fulfilled.”
Leading up to the World Cups, West Indies Women are expected to have two sub-continent tours as well as the Qualifiers, all of which Schultz is looking forward to in order to become a permanent fixture in the side and show the world her talents.
The orthodox spinner indicated that women’s cricket has been on the rise and was particularly inspired by the ladies when West Indies hosted the ICC T20 World Cup in 2018.
During the World Cup, Schultz took time off to bowl in the nets to bowl to teams such as England, Australia and India where she gained a lot of exposure.
A year later, Schultz quit her job to take up cricket seriously and vowed to be an elite athlete and become a role model for female cricketers across the world.
On year after the 23-year-old was selected in the West Indies Women’s side for their tour of England which marked the return of women’s cricket since the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic but did not feature in any match.
Nevertheless, the left-hander who hails from Craig, East Bank Demerara also soaked up invaluable experience on her first tour.
“It was a lot different from what I was accustomed to, it was more competitive and the conditions were different. My experience was pretty much amazing, I had a chance to witness different strategies of the game, learning new stuff and experimenting different conditions it was definitely a lifetime memory and I enjoyed every minute of it,” she said.
Schultz reflected on the tour as one which “has boosted her confidence a lot,” and said that it was one of the most difficult thing she has done in her life.
Despite the unique circumstances that forced the side to quarantine and play under the new protocols, she was not fazed by it.
“Dealing with the quarantine was okay, no difficulties encountered, there were recreational times, enjoying your teammates’ company and also during that time you can reset your game and dwell on different ideas so it was very good,” she explained.
Schultz says that she is still continuing to work hard.
“The hard work hasn’t stopped and even though I am home now, I am putting in the work, training at home, you know, doing everything I can to get in shape, develop my skills and most of all be ready for whenever West Indies call upon me,” she declared.
