NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – Vice-captain Shakera Selman says West Indies Women’s team’s batting has not lived up to expectations in the ongoing series against New Zealand Women and that she believes the hosts need to follow the lead of the visitors.
“They are batting better than we are. We haven’t been able to get a half-century in the series as yet and they got a half-century in the first game,” Selman told media on the eve of the final One-Day International of the three-match series carded for the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
“They had a better start in the first game and then they had a top four batter bat through almost to the end of the innings in the last game, and that’s what we’ve been asking from our top five for someone to bat until the end of the innings.
“And we saw how crucial that was especially in the last game when Maddy Green put up her hand for the team after they lost two early wickets. So I think that’s the main thing – they’ve been batting better than we have.”
West Indies Women produced lacklustre batting efforts in the opening two matches, to lose the first game by five runs under Duckworth-Lewis-Stern and the second game by two wickets.
On both occasions, the Caribbean side batted first but failed to pass 170.
The side is playing its first series since the high-profile retirement of ace all-rounder Deandra Dottin, and the appointment of new captain Hayley Matthews to replace Stafanie Taylor.
Selman, 33, a veteran of 97 ODIs, said the rejigging of the batting order would take time to produce results.
“Deandra is only one player. She obviously was a big part of our team both with the bat and the ball for many years and we’re grateful for what she has done but cricket has to go on and we have to find a way to go on without her,” Selman explained.
“Other players obviously now have the opportunity to perform for the team and to really put up their hands for the team.
“I guess we’re still experimenting with the openers, obviously with Natasha McLean now coming back into the team after a while out and Hayley now batting down at five.
“So it’s an opportunity for batters to put up their hands. I’m not sure which batting order will work. Maybe one day it will work but the next day it won’t. We’re going to have to give the youngsters some time.”
Taylor, the batting leader with 5 316 runs and seven hundreds from 147 ODIs, has been short of runs in the series with scores of eight and 10.
However, Selman said it was only a matter of time before the Jamaican’s class came to the fore again.
“I believe in class and Stafanie is a class player. There’s no doubt about it,” Selman pointed out.
“If you look at her stats, she is a legend of the game. She’s done so much for West Indies with the bat and I think that class players are always just one knock away from making a big score and getting back into form.
Seamer Cherry-Ann Fraser has replaced speedster Shamilia Connell in the 13-member squad announced yesterday.
SQUAD – Hayley Matthews (captain), Shakera Selman (vice captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Chinelle Henry, Kyshona Knight, Natasha McLean, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor, Rashada Williams.