ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020: West Indies Women fixtures, key players, squad, prediction

Since England won the inaugural edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup, in 2009, Australia have won four of the next five editions. The other, in 2016, was won by West Indies. They are also the only side other than Australia and England to make it to the final of the tournament.

West Indies are pooled with England and South Africa in Group B, the easier of the two groups (as in 2018, Australia, India, and New Zealand are all in the same group). They will have an easy start, and will take field as favourites against Thailand and Pakistan before – in all probability – losing to England.

That will leave them with one match, against South Africa. If all teams play as per potential, that match will be a virtual quarterfinal.

West Indies do boast of their two senior cricketers, Deandra Dottin and Stafanie Taylor, both of whom are all-time great all-rounders in the format. There is also Anisa Mohammed, the leading wicket-taker in this format.

However, the support cast do not inspire much confidence. Indeed, the situation was desperate enough for them to recall Trinidad & Tobago batter Lee-Ann Kirby after 11 years. Despite that, two solid performances – against Pakistan and South Africa – may mean a spot in the top four.

Key players

Stafanie Taylor: The only cricketer to have done the 2,500 runs-50 wickets double in the format, Taylor has led West Indies through a below-par 2019 largely without Dottin and Anisa. With the two stalwarts back in the side to absorb some pressure, Taylor should be able to return to her best.

Deandra Dottin: The first to score 2 hundreds in the format, Dottin had topped both the runs and wickets chart for West Indies in the 2018 edition. An injury had kept her out of the side for most of 2019; West Indies will be boosted by return to the side.

Anisa Mohammed: Her canny variations and metronomic precision make Anisa one of the finest bowlers in the format. The leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20I history, Anisa will have to lead the West Indian attack again.

Squad: Stafanie Taylor (c), Deandra Dottin, Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Afy Fletcher, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Sheneta Grimmond, Chinelle Henry, Lee-Ann Kirby, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Shakera Selman.

Fixtures

February 24: vs Thailand at WACA, Perth
February 27: vs Pakistan at Manuka Oval, Canberra
March 1: vs England at Showground Stadium, Sydney
March 3: vs South Africa at Showground Stadium, Sydney

Prediction

Beat Pakistan and Thailand but lose to England and South Africa, which means that they are likely to finish third in Group A.