THE 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is just around the corner, and will see 10 teams from across the world battle it out in South Africa to be crowned World Champions for another three years.

In the lead up to the tournament, we here at Rookie Me Central will be previewing the teams one by one, and taking a deep dive into their chances at the upcoming tournament.

Next up in this series is the West Indies.

The West Indies, like many countries at this tournament, is a nation outside the dominant women’s sides, but will be no doubt keen to change that this World Cup.

The odds are then, unfortunately for the West Indians not in their favour to progress far at this tournament.

Of all the teams they could have drawn to play first, the English were probably one of the last the West Indians would have wanted. They got absolutely demolished by the English in a series towards the back end of last year, so if the form they displayed in that series continues they are in deep trouble this tournament from the get go.

The West Indians certainly have the talent to make an impact at the tournament, but like Sri Lanka, they rely on too few players to get the job done.

Led by Hayley Matthews and Shemaine Campbelle, a lot of pressure will once again be on Matthews to get the West Indies off to a good start in matches. Like Chamari Athapaththu for the Sri Lankans, the West Indies often rely on Matthews with the bat and her success or failure often dictates how the rest of the innings is going to go.

But, there is the chance Matthews will get some help this tournament.

Although she is under a bit of an injury cloud, star all rounder Stafanie Taylor has been named in the squad for the tournament. She has been battling a back injury, and will be give every chance to play, but if she pulls through that will be a huge boost for the West Indies.

Like many other countries at this tournament, there are also a number of West Indians doing the double and playing the senior World Cup after competing at the Under 19 World Cup.

Zaida James finished in the top 15 for the tournament with the bat with 124 runs for the tournament (which was the highest tally for the West Indians), and also topped the wicket tally for her team. Djenaba Joseph also finished in the top 35 for the tournament with 81 runs to her name for the tournament at the Under 19 tournament and was very economical with the ball.

Trishan Holder also competed at the Under 19 tournament but did not quite make the contributions that James and Joseph made.

West Indies Squad

Hayley Matthews (c), Shemaine Campbelle (vc), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Afy Fletcher, Shabika Gajnabi, Chinelle Henry, Trishan Holder, Zaida James, Djenaba Joseph, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman, Stafanie Taylor, Rashada Williams

West Indies Fixture (all dates local)

February 11 – England
February 15 – India
February 17 – Ireland
February 19 – Pakistan