The recent international awards won by Barbadians Justin Greaves and Hayley Matthews are justifiable reasons for Bajan cricket fans to be super proud.
That is according to Calvin Hope, president of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA), who yesterday showered the two all-rounders with praise.
Hope issued a glowing media statement as he joined the cricket world in congratulating the duo on winning the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Player of the Month awards for July 2026.
This was the fifth time Matthews won the award while it was the first time for Greaves.
This the first time two West Indian players won the awards in the same month.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, membership, and the entire cricketing community of Barbados, I take this opportunity to congratulate you both for your outstanding performances and well-deserved international recognition. This is an extraordinary achievement and a moment of immense pride for Barbados and the wider West Indies cricket family. For the first time since the ICC Player of the Month awards were introduced, players from Barbados and the West Indies have captured both the men’s and women’s awards for the same month. This remarkable accomplishment is a powerful reflection of the quality, resilience and excellence of our cricket,” Hope said.
“Hayley, your fifth ICC Women’s Player of the Month award is a truly outstanding achievement. Your performances during the West Indies Women’s 3-0 ODI series victory over Ireland were exceptional. With 265 runs at an average of 132.50, including centuries in the first two matches, together with seven wickets across the series, you demonstrated once again the extraordinary allround ability that has established you among the premier players in the world.”
The 28-year-old Matthews was a stand-out while at Harrison College and plays on the men’s team for Pickwick Club.
She is the leading performer in the world and one of the greatest West Indies women’s players of all time.
She is ranked in the top 20 in all categories on the ICC charts – eighth in batting in ODIs, fourth in batting in T20Is, second in all-rounders in ODIs, first in all-rounders in T20Is, fourth in bowling in ODIs and 14th in bowling in T20Is.
Greaves, 31, is a graduate of Combermere, plays for the Empire Club locally and for the Leeward Islands Hurricanes in regional tournaments.
He has been the leading Test cricketer for the West Indies in the last seven Test matches and was magnificent in the last month.
He made a monumental unbeaten century in New Zealand last November to a memorable draw in the first Test. In the Test series against Sri Lanka he made 180 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. He then took a superb five-wicket haul
to win the first Test against Pakistan at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.
He climbed up the ICC rankings in Test cricket to 51st in Test batting and 53rd in bowling. He is ninth among all-rounders – the highest position by a West Indian since Jason Holder was number one between 2019 and 2021.
“Justin, we extend our warmest congratulations to you on winning your maiden ICC Men’s Player of the Month award. Your performances were nothing short of exceptional and demonstrated the impact of a genuine all-rounder at the highest level. Your magnificent 180 against Sri Lanka helped the West Indies secure a draw and ultimately a 1-0 series victory. You then produced a match-winning bowling performance against Pakistan, claiming five for 27 in the first innings and two for 12 in the second as the West Indies secured a memorable 90-run victory. This is an outstanding testament to your contribution with both bat and ball,” Hope said.
“Your recognition alongside Hayley Matthews means that two of our own have played leading roles in creating a historic moment for West Indies cricket. We are immensely proud of you. Your success provides lessons that hard work will reap dividends and provides inspiration for the next generation of Barbadian cricketers. May you continue to strive for excellence, represent the West Indies with distinction, and achieve even greater success in the months and years ahead.” (PS)
The post BCA hails Matthews, Greaves appeared first on nationnews.com.