One year after being sidelined by a season-ending injury that forced her to miss the 2023 Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL), star all-rounder and Barbados Tridents captain Hayley Matthews is set to make her much-anticipated return, with a clear goal: lifting a fourth consecutive title on her home ground at Bridgetown’s Kensington Oval.
The three-time back-to-back WCPL champions will kick off their 2024 campaign against the Trinbago Knight Riders on September 5, and Matthews says the chance to chase history in front of a home crowd has injected the squad with extra energy heading into the tournament. Speaking at an official welcome reception hosted by franchise partner Guardian Life of the Caribbean Limited at Copa Cabana this Wednesday, Matthews acknowledged that the Tridents roster looks vastly different from last year’s championship-winning side, with several key players moving to other franchises in the off-season. But far from viewing the overhaul as a setback, the captain says she is embracing the transition and eager to build on-field chemistry with new teammates.
“Everyone’s really looking forward to getting underway,” Matthews said. “We’ve been the team to beat for three years running, but this group has changed a lot. Our first priority is building a strong, cohesive team culture that helps us compete every game. One thing we’ve always done well as a Barbados unit is close out tight matches and find a way to win when it matters most. That ability to get over the line in crunch moments is going to be more important than ever this year.”
Matthews holds high expectations for her side, but she is under no illusions about the challenge ahead, noting that this year’s WCPL is shaping up to be one of the most competitive editions to date. She described all participating squads as deep, talented, and well-balanced, adding that the influx of new international guest players will raise the overall standard of play across the tournament.
“The new international additions are going to make every game tough and interesting, and that’s exactly what we want — it means fans are going to get to see world-class cricket from every side,” she explained. “We also have a unique advantage early on: a seven-day gap between our first and second matches, which gives us plenty of time to gel as a unit, get to know each other’s games, and iron out any kinks before we hit full stride.”
Looking ahead to the tournament, Matthews issued a warm invitation to cricket fans across Barbados and the Caribbean to turn out in force to support the Tridents, as the side chases a historic fourth consecutive WCPL crown. She also emphasized that the women’s game has grown exponentially in recent years, with rising standards that make every match a can’t-miss spectacle for attendees.
“Getting out to support means the world to us, but fans should also come ready to be entertained,” she said. “Women’s cricket is growing every single year, the standard gets better and better, and it’s become a real spectacle to watch. I hope people come out, enjoy some fantastic cricket, and get to watch us bring home a few wins on our home ground.”
Barbados’ Minister of Sport Charles Griffith also offered remarks at the reception, congratulating the franchise on its recent rebrand and extending his full support to the team ahead of the tournament. Griffith noted that Barbados has enjoyed an unprecedented run of sporting success in 2024, a milestone he attributed not to his leadership, but to rigorous preparation and the hard work of coaches, players, and support staff across the country’s sporting ecosystem.
“In the last 10 to 15 years, we haven’t had the level of success we’ve seen this year,” Griffith said. “I’m not going to take credit for that — that success comes down to the preparation process, and I want to salute every person behind it: the teams, the coaches, all the support staff that show up and do the work every single day.”
Signaling his personal commitment to the Tridents’ campaign, Griffith closed by confirming he is already ready to cheer the side on: “I have my Tridents shirt, and I am ready. So again, congratulations and welcome home. We are expecting big things from this team.”