Tributes paid to Vivalyn Latty-Scott after passing of pioneer for women's cricket in West Indies

Her five-wicket haul against Australia in the maiden Test at Montego Bay, Jamaica, was the first by a West Indian woman. She also played six one-day internationals

Tributes have been paid to Vivalyn Latty-Scott, a pioneer for women’s cricket in the West Indies, who passed away on Saturday, with current captain Stafanie Taylor remembering her as “an amazing lady”.

An off-spinning allrounder who made a half century and took a five-wicket haul in a 10-match Test career, she was part of the first West Indies side to play Test cricket against Australia in 1976.

After retiring from playing, she turned her hand to coaching and umpiring, while acting as a driving force for the game in Jamaica.

Her five-wicket haul against Australia in the maiden Test at Montego Bay, Jamaica, was the first by a West Indian woman. She also played six one-day internationals.

Former teammate Dorothy Hobson described Latty-Scott as a “dedicated and committed cricketer and lifelong fan of the game”.

^{Vivalyn Latty-Scott is pictured (third from left, back row) with her West Indies teammates}

She added: “She was a great captain for Jamaica and a great player for the West Indies. She was a complete player with bat and ball, equally adept at both skills. Cricket was ‘her game’, she was a dedicated and committed cricketer and she always had a dream of doing great things for the West Indies.

“Her legacy is that she contributed to the game at all levels — boys, girls, men and women — she made a great impact at all levels.”

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“I have known this amazing lady from when I went on my first tour with the Jamaica team and she was very helpful to me,” reflected Taylor.

“She set a trail in women’s cricket and she played a very important role in my development and inspired many young cricketers in Jamaica to play the game and to excel. We all admired and respected her.”

^{Images: Cricket West Indies}