ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Members of the West Indies Women team have assembled in Antigua for a camp ahead of the upcoming white-ball series against England Women in December. The Selection Panel named 15 players for the ten-day camp at Coolidge Cricket Grounds (CCG) ahead of the arrival of the England Women for the matches in Antigua and Barbados.
Captain Hayley Matthews will not take part in the camp but will be available for the series, as she returns to the Caribbean from her stint in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) and experienced all-rounder, Stafanie Taylor is still recovering from a back injury. There is one newcomer in the training squad, Kimone Homer, a left-handed batter from the Windward Islands.
The camp will focus on improving the skill level and match management of the players engaged, as well as mental skills sessions during the camp. This highlights the importance being placed on a holistic approach to international cricket. The camp will be led by Head Coach, Courtney Walsh. He will be assisted by coaches Robert Samuels, Corey Collymore and Ryan Austin – three former West Indies Test cricketers.
Head Coach Courtney Walsh told CWI Media,
“A camp is always good to get before the series starts. This camp is to focus on our execution and consistency and the roles various players have throughout the innings. With Kycia Knight and Shemaine Campbelle back in camp, it’s always good to have experienced players back in the squad. I’m excited to see their fitness levels and how they contribute on the team because you can’t really beat experience and the knowledge they give to the younger members of the team.”
Coach Walsh added,
This series is also important because points towards the ICC Women’s Championship are also up for grabs towards qualification for the next World Cup. In Addition, it will also give the Maroon fans another opportunity to come out and support the ladies before we all settle in with our families to enjoy the holiday season.
West Indies and England will contest three day/night CG United One-Day Internationals (ODI) followed by five T20 Internationals to be played under lights. The CG United ODIs will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (SVRS) in Antigua on 4, 6 and 9 December and part of the ICC Women’s Championship. The first T20I will also be played in Antigua on 11 December. The T20I Series then moves to Barbados for four T20Is at Kensington Oval on 14, 17, 18 and 22 December.
Both teams will be preparing for the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa which begins on February 10, with West Indies and England was drawn to play each other in Group 2 of the tournament. The CG United ODI Series is the second fixture for West Indies and England with points up for grabs in the ICC Women’s Championship (IWC). The top five teams in the IWC will automatically book a berth for the ICC Women’s World Cup in 2025. The remaining five teams in the IWC will have to go through the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
The third CG United ODI in Antigua will be free for local and visiting fans as it falls on V.C. Bird Day, a national holiday in Antigua. Fans can get their free tickets by registering and downloading their free ticket from the Windies Tickets website at tickets.windiestickets.com. Fans can purchase tickets for the other games in advance receiving their tickets securely into their online account to save to mobile devices or print out for presentation at the stadium, avoiding the need to queue at or travel to the stadium ticket offices.
Ticket offices at each venue will be open on the day of each match. Tickets are just US$9/EC$25 for the CG United ODI Series and the 1st T20I in Antigua. For the four T20Is in Barbados, Greenidge and Haynes stand tickets will be US$10/BD$20 with 3Ws stand tickets behind the wicket available for just US$15/BD$30.
FULL TRAINING CAMP SQUAD
Aaliyah Alleyne
Shemaine Campbelle
Afy Fletcher
Cherry Ann Fraser
Shabika Gajnabi
Sheneta Grimmond
Chinelle Henry
Kimone Homer
Kycia Knight
Kyshona Knight
Chedean Nation
Karishma Ramharack
Shakera Selman
Kaysia Schultz
Rashada Williams
FULL MATCH SCHEDULE
West Indies Women v England Women
CG United ODIs start at 2 pm local time (1 pm Jamaica time)
Sunday, 4 December – 1st CG United ODI at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua
Tuesday, 6 December – 2nd CG United ODI at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
Friday, 9 December – 3rd CG United ODI at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
T20Is start 6 pm (5 pm local time (1 pm Jamaica time)
Sunday, 11 December – 1st T20I at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
Wednesday, 14 December – 2nd T20I at Kensington Oval, Barbados
Saturday, 17 December – 3rd T20I at Kensington Oval
Sunday, 18 December – 4th T20I at Kensington Oval
Thursday, 22 December – 5th T20I at Kensington Oval
NOTE: Broadcast and streaming details for the matches will be announced at a later date.