MELBOURNE, Australia, CMC – West Indies Women captain Hayley Matthews believes improvement for her side will come through a combination of structural improvements in the Caribbean and a personal desire on the part of players to excel.
The losing trend for the Caribbean side continued here last weekend when they went down 2-0 to Australia Women in the One-Day International series, to follow up their 2-1 defeat to the hosts in the preceding Twenty20 International series.
“I think just working harder and wanting to be better as players, finding ways and doing more research on our own game and the opposition that we come up against as well,” Matthews said.
“I think there are a lot of factors that can go into improving your game. Obviously with the structure we have back home it’s quite difficult to get really good match practice.
“[That’s] the reason why tournaments like the WCPL that we’ve just been a part of is so, so important.
“But for sure, I think it goes hand in hand with the board and players to want to get more infrastructure and at the same time for the players to work harder on their game and become better as well.”
West Indies Women fielded a young side during the series, with the likes of teenagers Zaida James and Djenaba Joseph opening the batting in the first ODI. And in a move to further develop the younger members of the squad, a West Indies Women A side comprising several players from the Australia series, will tour Pakistan starting next week for three ODIs and four T20s.
Matthews believes the tour will be an excellent learning curve for those players already learning their trade at international level.
“I think it’s going to be great. I think we’ve got seven girls from this tour heading down there and I think it’s going to be a great level of cricket for them to go and play,” she explained.
“And not only learn, but hopefully get some confidence from the games as well.
“I think it will be a real test for them and a real tell for them to see where they’re at personally.
“Obviously Australia is quite tough opposition but over in Pakistan, getting the opportunity to play the A-team stuff, I think the girls are coming up against other ladies who they can perform well against.”
Matthews was the leading player for the Caribbean side on the recent tour, taking the Player-of-the-Match award in every T20 International before emerging with the Player-of-the-Series honour, after dominating with the bat.
However, she missed the opening ODI with a leg injury and even though she recovered significantly enough to turn out in the remaining games, she conceded the injury needed to be managed carefully as she prepared for her campaign in the Women’s Big Bash.
“It was just a Grade One tear but since that third T20, I’ve been in a pretty pain-free zone and managing it pretty well, hence the reason for me missing the first game,” she said.
“But at the same time I wouldn’t have come back unless I felt pretty fit to do so.
“Representing West Indies is really, really important and something I always want to do and want to give my all to.
“I’m glad that I’ve been able to come back and I’ve been managing well with it and I’m ready to get going in the WBBL now that this is all over.”
Matthews will turn out for Melbourne Renegades in the October 19 to December 2 tournament.
