Hayley Matthews, the captain of the Barbados and West Indies women’s cricket team, said she was unaware Deandra Dottin planned to retire from international cricket midway through the Commonwealth Games. She plans to speak with Dottin when the team’s campaign in Birmingham comes to an end.
A few days after Dottin made his shocking statement via Twitter on Monday, West Indies skipper Matthews claimed she was just as astonished as everyone else, citing concerns about the team’s environment.
When questioned about her reaction to Dottin’s decision, Matthews replied, “Thankful to Deandra for everything she’s done for West Indies cricket.” While we are sad to see her leave, we support her 100% if she decides to take this next step in her career. ”
In response to Dottin’s statements on the team’s climate, Matthews claimed that she hadn’t spoken to her before the announcement and had “no interpretation.”
Since I am clearly down here representing Barbados and everything, I probably won’t look to remark on it at the time,” Matthews said on Wednesday following her team’s 100-run defeat to India in their last Group A game. As far as I’m concerned, I’d like to talk to her and see what happens.
Barbados defeated Pakistan by 15 runs in their debut Commonwealth Games match before falling to gold medal favourites Australia by nine wickets on Sunday.
Dottin announced her “formal retirement from the senior women’s West Indies team effective 1st July 2022” in a letter she sent to Cricket West Indies the following day. Additionally, Dottin, who will captain Trinbago Knight Riders in the Women’s CPL, stated that she was looking forward to “playing domestic cricket throughout the world”.
When it comes to her cricket career, “I have had to overcome numerous challenges, but the current climate and team environment has not been beneficial to my capacity to develop and reignite my enthusiasm,” Dottin noted in her announcement. My capacity to work at a high level has been hampered by team culture and environment, which I have come to realise with much sadness but no remorse.
West Indies’ most-capped international cricketer, Dottin, who has played 124 T20Is and 143 One-Day Internationals for the team, struggled mightily at the Commonwealth Games. A total of eight, eight, and zero were her scores in three Twenty20 Internationals for Barbados.
It was great to see the Barbados teammates laugh and hug after she juggled a stunning catch going from point to short cover to dismiss India’s Taniya Bhatia off Matthew’s bowling on Wednesday.
Despite the fact that Matthews admitted she was “a little upset” with the outcome of the match against India, she was nonetheless proud of the accomplishments of her side, which included seven West Indies internationals and a slew of others who had never played for their country before.
“I think we put up a really good fight,” Matthews said. “The most memorable moment was our victory over Pakistan in our first match, and I believe that we did more than many people anticipated us to. The girls were able to learn a lot even if we didn’t get the results we were hoping for today, but I’m pleased with the event and the experience.
“West Indies and the rest of the Caribbean may be inspired to devote more resources to women’s cricket in the region. A lot of things are going well for them now. Hopefully, some of the younger players we had today will be able to compete at the highest level if we can expand our domestic setup over the next few years.”
Matthews was eager to stay on with West Indies after leading Barbados to a place at the 2019 Commonwealth Games on the basis of their T20 Blaze championships.
In just three games, “I would have learnt a lot,” she said, “taking responsibility and dealing with a lot of the younger players who were not as experienced at this level.” “Thank you so much to everyone on the team who has helped me along the way.
“In your mind, it’s likely that leading your country or your nation is the peak of your profession, therefore I’m guessing it was something I was interested in as well. That being said, I’m just glad for the opportunity to lead both Barbados and the Caribbean area, and I’m humbled by it.”
