The Gleaner

Matthews backing coaching staff despite woeful form

Lennox Aldred/gleaner Writer

ON MONDAY, the West Indies senior women’s team suffered their 13th straight T20 International defeat when they went down by eight wickets to India in the South Africa Tri-series in East London.

The West Indies first posted 94 for six, with captain Hayley Matthews top scoring with 34 and debutant Zaida James getting 21 not out. India then eased to 95 for two in 13.5 overs.

The loss meant the Hayley Matthews-led side closed out the series winless in their four games, losing by 44 runs to South Africa in the first game, then followed that up with a 56-run loss to India, then succumbed by 10 wickets again to South Africa.

Those defeats are coming off the back of four defeats to New Zealand and five against England. Pundits back in the Caribbean have already started to sound the alarm and call for head coach Courtney Walsh to step aside. However, Matthews believes Walsh and his staff are doing the best they can based on the latest situation.

“We had an excellent World Cup last year going in as underdogs, and we reached the semi-finals. A lot of that came down to the coaching staff and the work that we were able to put in. It’s a game of cricket and the results aren’t going our way, but we are still seeing a lot of progress in certain areas, especially the bowling.”

Matthews outlined that the team has had to go into some of the contests with just three or four frontline batters, with Jamaicans Stafanie Taylor, Chedean Nation and Chinelle Henry all absent due to injuries.

“It has been difficult for the team results-wise, but at the same time, we understand what we are going through at the moment with a lot of senior players injured. I don’t think coach Walsh has plateaued. We are going through a transitioning stage with a lot of youngsters and injuries. If we can get everybody back to full fitness, I think we are going to look like a different side.”

A couple of those youngsters that Matthews mentioned, under19 players Jannillea Glasgow and James, made their debuts yesterday.

“The energy that they were able to bring into the field was phenomenal. It definitely felt like a new sparkle out there, which is something that we have been asking for a while, and it is great to have them as part of the group,” Matthews said.

SPORTS

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2023-01-31T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-01-31T08:00:00.0000000Z

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