West Indies ready to play a major role in a T20 World Cup once again

WOMEN'S T20 WORLD CUP PREVIEW - WEST INDIES: The Cricketer takes a look at the strengths, weaknesses and key players ahead of this year's tournament in Australia…

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Coach: Gus Logie

Captain: Stafanie Taylor

Last time: Semi-finals

Previous best: Champions (2016)

Key players

Deandra Dottin: By the time the West Indies' tournament opener arrives on February 22, allrounder Dottin will be more than a year removed from her last appearance in maroon.

The need for surgery on her right shoulder cut short her 2019 campaign and sidelined her for eight months – but not before she had spearheaded Barbados' domestic T20 title run as the league's leading scorer (222) and with its highest strike rate (179.03) and average (222.0).

But a fit-again Dottin is not only excellent news for the batting unit, as the 28-year-old also offers a potent pace option that has delivered 26 wickets at 12.19 across 18 previous T20 World Cup outings, with a West Indies format record of 5-5 coming against Bangladesh in the 2018 tournament.

Having finished as the joint-leading wicket-taker at each of the last two editions, the world's leading T20 allrounder (at least at the time of her injury) will be desperate to pick up right where she left off on fast and bouncy Australian tracks.

^{Allrounder Deandra Dottin}

Afy Fletcher: Almost seven years passed between her West Indies debut and finally getting an extended run in the T20 side, but the Grenadian has become integral to her side's short-form efforts in recent seasons.

After featuring in 15 of their 17 outings since the 2018 tournament, Fletcher heads to Australia as the West Indies' leading wicket-taker (16 at 18.50) and most experienced squad member in that time, with fellow 15-gamer Natasha McLean left out of the touring party after a poor run of form with the bat.

Though coach Gus Logie has no shortage of spin options, particularly in the veteran off-spin of Anisa Mohammed and captain Stafanie Taylor, it was Fletcher's miserly contributions that saw her finish as the West Indies' most economical bowler in the title-winning 2016 campaign, where back-to-back hauls of 3-12 against England and 2-15 against India saw her turn subpar first innings efforts of 108 and 114 into imposing hurdles and ultimately a semi-final spot.

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Cherry-Ann Fraser: The 20-year-old Guyanese quick is one of just four members of the West Indies squad in line for her maiden T20 World Cup trip, with head selector Ann Browne-John describing the uncapped youngster's potent pace and bounce as "ideal for the Australian pitches".

Even among a seam attack bolstered by the now-healthy Shakera Selman and Shamilia Connell, hopes will be high for Fraser to make the most of her bow and prove a secret weapon for a title charge, much like the prodigious Hayley Matthews in 2016.

^{Batsman Hayley Matthews}

Strengths

The West Indies know they have precisely what it takes to go the distance in this tournament, with eight members of this year's final 15-woman squad having featured in the XI that chased down Australia's target of 149 in the 2016 final.

In addition to a number of players returning from injury, the squad has also been boosted by the recent addition of Test icon Courtney Walsh to the coaching staff, which has been led since October by Trinidadian stalwart Gus Logie following a series of changes at the Windies board.

Weaknesses

Since falling in the semi-finals of the 2018 competition, the West Indies’ T20 outfit has been on a downward spiral that currently sees them winless in their last 11 fixtures. This is a run that dates back to a tour of England in June, and only two of the losses have been anywhere close to evenly-matched affairs.

Compared to high-profile group rivals England and South Africa, the West Indies have far less experience in Australian conditions — only captain Stafanie Taylor featured in the latest WBBL instalment, and other members of the squad will need to adapt quickly to conditions as soon as the tournament begins as the side is without major fixtures before facing newcomers Thailand to open their campaign.

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Squad

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

Fixtures

Saturday, February 22: West Indies v Thailand (WACA, Perth, 2pm)

Wednesday, February 26: West Indies v Pakistan (Manuka Oval, Canberra, 7pm)

Monday, March 1: England v West Indies (Sydney Showground Stadium, 7pm)

Wednesday, March 3: West Indies v South Africa (Sydney Showground Stadium, 7pm)

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