Hunte says Windies Women showing signs of progress
GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC) — West Indies Cricket Board chief Julian Hunte believes the regional women’s
team victory over Australia in the recent ICC Women’s World Cup is proof of
their development.
The Caribbean side beat the Aussies in their final Super Six, second round to book their place in the grand final which they subsequently lost on Sunday, in a rematch with Australia.
Their earlier victory, however, was their first ever over Australia in ODIs.
“The entire family of West Indies Cricket and the Caribbean region as a whole are immensely proud of the performance of the West Indies Women,” Hunte said.
“While they did not win the title, they advanced to the final by defeating more favoured and acclaimed teams, including the eventual winners Australia.
“That the West Indies were the only team to beat Australia in the tournament is also testimony to their growing stature in international women’s cricket.”
West Indies opened the tournament with a heavy loss to Australia in their only official warm-up before also going down badly in Group A to hosts India in the tournament curtain-raiser.
They crushed Sri Lanka to squeeze through to the second round where they knocked over South Africa, New Zealand and Australia to clinch their place in the final for the first time ever.
“We have seen steady and consistent improvement as part of a coordinated plan of development and as such I must congratulate and hail the achievements of the players as they have committed and dedicated themselves towards upward mobility,” Hunte pointed out.
West Indies will now turn their attention to a tour of Sri Lanka starting Friday which comprises three One-Day Internationals and five Twenty20 Internationals.
This follows on from a tough series against South Africa at home last month where they drew the five-match one-day segment 2-2 before sweeping the T20 doubleheader.
Hunte said the tour would be another learning curve for the Windies girls.
“The tour to Sri Lanka will allow the players another level of exposure to further broaden their experience and skills base and we are pleased that they will be playing both ODIs and Twenty20s,” he stressed.
