As the countdown to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup enters its final stretch, West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews has challenged her squad to embrace an aggressive, fearless brand of cricket to compete on cricket’s biggest global stage, drawing on her own experience as part of the region’s 2016 world title-winning side.
Speaking to reporters at the official pre-tournament captains’ media briefing, Matthews highlighted that the 2025 West Indies roster boasts a strategically balanced mix of seasoned veterans and emerging young talent. She pointed to the invaluable mentorship provided by team mainstays Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin, whose decades of international and World Cup experience give the squad’s rising players a trusted foundation to grow into the high-pressure tournament.
“What stands out most for our group is how hungry our young players are to learn and improve,” Matthews explained. “Having players like Stafanie and Deandra in the dressing room means the next generation can feed off that experience, learning what it takes to compete at the highest level of World Cup cricket. For us, it all comes down to pulling everything together at the right moment, and delivering when we step onto the pitch.”
The road to the World Cup has already held an early test for West Indies: the side fell to a 26-run defeat against India in its opening warm-up fixture, and will wrap up its pre-tournament preparation with a final practice match against world-leading Australia on Wednesday. Their official tournament campaign kicks off on June 13 against defending champions New Zealand, a matchup Matthews knows intimately after sharing and competing against many of the Black Caps’ top players in global T20 franchise leagues.
“Every time we take the field, we come to play our best and compete for the win,” Matthews said. “New Zealand is always a top-tier opponent, packed with world-class match-winners who can turn a game on its head in a few overs. We know we have to work hard to limit the impact of key players like Melie Kerr and Sophie Devine as much as possible. At the end of the day, it’s about executing our game plan as a unit – when we play to our full potential, we believe we can beat any side in the tournament.”
New Zealand claimed the 2024 World Cup title with a victory over South Africa in the final, and Matthews acknowledged that women’s T20 cricket has transformed dramatically since West Indies lifted the trophy 10 years ago. “The game has grown exponentially in the last decade,” she noted. “Nowadays, to compete at the top level, you have to play without fear. I expect we’ll see a lot of records broken this tournament, and only teams willing to take aggressive, smart risks will come out on top.”
Matthews also opened up about the game-changing impact of veteran all-rounder Deandra Dottin, who holds the record for the most sixes hit in Women’s World Cup history. Calling Dottin a priceless asset to the West Indies setup, she emphasized the all-rounder’s ability to shift momentum with bat, ball, and in the field.
“She can change the outcome of a game from anywhere on the pitch – whether she’s batting, bowling, or pulling off a spectacular play in the outfield, you see how electric she can be,” Matthews said. “We’re so lucky to have her in our squad. When Deandra is finding her rhythm at the crease, she’s a dangerous player for any opposition to face.”
West Indies is drawn in a competitive group that includes not just New Zealand, but also Ireland, Scotland, Sri Lanka, and England. The side will face hosts England at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground on June 24, a fixture Matthews says the entire squad is eagerly anticipating.
“Playing at Lord’s is special any day, but doing it at a World Cup against the home team? It’s going to be a truly monumental occasion,” she said. “We’re incredibly excited for that game. We’ll go in with far less pressure than England will carry as hosts, so our focus is just on enjoying the moment and playing our best cricket.”