West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews cannot wait to get started in this year’s edition of the Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL).
As the world’s leading all-rounder in women’s Twenty20 Internationals (WT20I), the Barbados Royals Women’s skipper is looking forward to a possible three-peat as WCPL enters its fourth year with Guyana’s Providence Stadium playing host to the entire tournament which begins on September 6.
Currently the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) WT20I number two batter, Matthews led the Royals Women to their inaugural title in 2023, before a repeat triumph in 2024.
Matthews, a recently announced new CPL ambassador, made an appearance at Republic Bank CPL’s Health and Wellness Day at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex in Barbados and described the hype and energy ahead of the season.
“It is pretty exciting obviously… a competition that only comes around once a year, so highly-anticipated for sure. I think as a Barbados Royals player and captain, we are super excited to get back into another season. Being able to win the last two…looking for the three-peat now so yes we are super excited,” said the two-time Women’s Premier League (India) champion.
“The whole team is ready, the overseas [players] are ready to come down and get going, I think it is going to be a big year for us and hopefully a year that we can bring home another trophy.”
Since her international debut in 2014, the 27-year-old has become the face of women’s cricket in the region, and is no stranger to cricket campaigns across the Caribbean.
Matthews underlined the importance of CPL’s promotions and activations which support the sport, especially on the women’s side.
“I think it [CPL Health and Wellness Day] is a great initiative. CPL is trying to come out and promote healthier lifestyles–getting into the community, getting around the Caribbean and trying to engage with the fans as much as possible which is great.”
She offered further commendations to the Barbados Royals Girls Cricket Club which offers free coaching for girls aged six to 14.
“The Barbados Royals Girls Club, the young children having the opportunity to come out, play a bit of cricket, have some fun, are always really important initiatives to not only help build up a tournament like CPL, but to help build up the wider community of the Caribbean as well.”
On the cricket field itself, Matthews commented on her West Indies and Barbados Royals opening partner Qiana Joseph, a left-handed batter from Saint Lucia.
“Qiana has definitely come a long way, I surely remember the days of her batting at seven and eight within the team. She has been able to work on her game a lot over the last year to year and a half, and has turned herself into an opening batter and a pretty successful one as well,” she said.
“We have been having some pretty good partnerships up at the top of the order so having her in the West Indies is a plus. Having her in the Barbados Royals as well, and being able to continue that partnership whilst playing the franchise circuit and whilst representing Barbados is going to be pretty fun and something that we are looking forward to doing some more as well.” (RW)
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