Head coach of the West Indies women’s team, Courtney Walsh says he has seen improvement in the side’s fitness as they prepare to face Pakistan women’s team later this week. During a press conference Saturday, the former fast bowler pointed out that the fitness level was not where it could be but has improved since the last time the ladies took to the field last September.
“We had frank open discussions and that level of step up there is improvement in all the tests they have done. The fitness is getting better, it is not where we want it to be but it is heading in the right direction, the scale is going up which is what you want and once we get up to where we can be or should be then that is one area we don’t have to worry about because it’s just maintenance from then…,” Walsh said.
According to the head coach, the improved levels of fitness was something that everyone involved bought into because they know that their skillset is going to suffer if the players don’t get fit enough and strong enough. Walsh admitted that it is expected that some ring rust be there, having been off the field for so long but with a two camps in that period and some practice matches as well as match scenarios, there the ladies should have their confidence boosted.
“Obviously not playing cricket in a while is going to take a toll on somebody’s confidence because if you not playing you aren’t sure how you are going to perform and being in the camp has helped us come together, get some good practice matches and some good scenarios and a feel of it so you are not going to be as sort of rusty as beforehand,” he highlighted.
Walsh was wary of the strengths Pakistan possesses but is focused on seeing all-round development.
Pakistan women last toured the Caribbean for an ODI bi-lateral series in 2015/2016 where the hosts came out with a 3-1 series win. West Indies Women have won 18 of the two sides’ 25 encounters.
However, when the two sides last faced each other in the format back in 2019 it was the Asian side that secured victory by a 2-1 margin.
Over in the shorter format, Women’s T20I, the Caribbean unit holds the upper hand with seven wins in 13 encounters which also features three tied contests.
He explained, “I am looking for all-round performances, all-round improvement in all departments…the England tour has been a while, I think was back in last September, we’ve had two camps since then, start to put some stuff together and focusing now on awareness and consistency especially in this camp and the Pakistan tour in a couple of days’ time to see how well we have sort of improved and get ready for international cricket again.”
The West Indies Women’s Senior team will play three CG Insurance T20Is against Pakistan Women from June 30 to July 3, with the West Indies Women’s ‘A’ Team also playing their historic, first ever three-match T20I Series on the same dates. Antigua’s Coolidge Cricket Ground and Sir Vivian Richards Stadium will host the series with the ‘A’ Team matches preceding the senior team matches in back-to-back, double-header fixtures.
