Lower-Ranked Teams Closing the Gap, Says West Indies Captain
NAVI MUMBAI: West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews believes women’s T20I cricket is becoming increasingly competitive, with traditionally lower-ranked teams beginning to challenge the dominance of the top sides. As her team prepares to face India in a T20I series starting Sunday, Matthews emphasized the growing unpredictability in women’s cricket.
Ranked third in the world, India will look to bounce back from their disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup, where they failed to progress beyond the group stage. Meanwhile, sixth-ranked West Indies reached the semifinals, where they were defeated by New Zealand, who eventually finished as runners-up.
Addressing the media after a training session, Matthews remarked, “The top-ranked teams are up there for a reason—they have better records and more consistent performances. But it’s evident that every team is now stepping up and competing at a higher level. At the World Cup, you couldn’t predict outcomes for many matches, and the results surprised everyone.”
Reflecting on the unexpected final four—West Indies, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia—Matthews added, “Not many would have predicted that line-up, or even a final between New Zealand and South Africa. This highlights how competitive the women’s game has become. Teams lower in the rankings are starting to close the gap.”
West Indies Finding Stability After Transition
The West Indies team, winners of the 2016 T20 World Cup, have been rebuilding over the past few years. Matthews acknowledged the challenges of transitioning but expressed optimism about her team’s progress. “We were going through a phase of transition, and our record against top teams wasn’t the best during that period. However, we’ve worked hard on improving our game and are starting to find our footing,” she explained.
Facing India, a formidable opponent, poses a significant challenge, but Matthews remains confident. “Playing against a team like India is never easy, but we’ve been playing positive cricket over the past year. We’re backing ourselves to put in strong performances and turn things around,” she said.
The Caribbean side has shown promise this year, winning nine of their 13 T20I matches.
Focus on India Series, But Eyes on WPL Mini Auction
With the Women’s Premier League (WPL) mini auction scheduled for Sunday, Matthews acknowledged its importance for West Indian players. However, she stressed that the team’s focus remains on the T20I series against India.
“We’re aware of the auction, but our priority is the match tomorrow. If some of our players get picked, it’ll be fantastic. Exposure to tournaments like the WPL will be hugely beneficial for our team,” she said.
Matthews, who played a pivotal role in Mumbai Indians’ title-winning campaign during the inaugural WPL season, hopes more West Indies players will earn opportunities. “The World Cup showcased the talent our players possess, and I’d love to see a few of them get selected. It would be a great boost for West Indies cricket,” she concluded.
As the T20I series unfolds, the West Indies will aim to extend their positive momentum and continue their resurgence in women’s cricket.
