The 2022 edition of the Women’s World Cup is scheduled to begin on 4th March 2022. Being held in New Zealand for the third time, the marquee event in the women’s calendar will consist of 31 matches culminating in the finals on April 3rd at Christchurch.
Main squad
Stafanie Taylor (captain), Anisa Mohammed (vice-captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthews, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman, Rashada Williams.
Strengths:
Good mix of youth and experience
The West Indian squad has a great blend of experienced and young players. Deandra Dottin is an experienced power-hitter. Stafanie Taylor, the experienced captain, will be expected to anchor the West Indian innings and support the bowling attack. Speaking of bowlers, they have Anisa Mohammed, who is a world class spinner and Shakera Selman, an experienced fast bowler. Shemaine Campbelle has also featured in 90 ODIs till date.
Capable All Rounders
The squad also benefits from many big names who are capable all-rounders and have proven themselves over time. Stafanie Taylor, their captain, leads from the front, with 7 centuries to her name. Also having claimed as many as 148 wickets, she will be expected to be the backbone of both the batting and bowling attack. Deandra Dottin is a power-hitter who bowls regularly in ODIs for the team. With more than 1500 runs and 68 wickets to her name, Hayley Matthews also contributes with both bat and ball for the West Indies.
Weakness:
Dependence on key players
West Indies are highly dependent on key players like Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, Hayley Matthews and Anisa Mohammed. Apart from them, the rest of the squad lacks the ability to carry on their good work, which has led to their undoing on many occasions. Among the current batters in the squad, apart from the trio of Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews, the rest of the players, irrespective of their experience, average under 20, which is quite below-par. Apart from these 4 players mentioned, only Shakera Selman and Afy Fletcher have taken more than 50 wickets in ODIs. The next successful bowler in the squad is Shamilia Connell, the strike bowler, who has picked up only 35 wickets in as many as 49 ODIs at an average of over 40.
Threats:
Batting failures
West Indies must guard themselves against batting failures, which can happen at any stage of the tournament. They have Deandra Dottin, who will look to open the innings. She scored a century each in her last 2 series, including the unbeaten 150, to add to her half-century against Ireland but she does not provide the required starts consistently. Stafanie Taylor also has 2 centuries and 2 scores in excess of 40 since they resumed playing after the pandemic. If they fall cheaply, West Indies may not even be able to post the kind of targets that could be defended in countries like New Zealand.
