West Indies Women look to make statement on English soil

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) has officially unveiled a 15-member squad to take on England in a high-stakes white-ball tour from May 21 to June 8, 2025, marking the team’s return to international competition following their campaign at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in Pakistan.

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With three T20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals slated across iconic English venues, the Windies Women are gearing up to reassert their prowess—and prove that Caribbean flair still belongs among the world’s elite.

A blended force: Seasoned stars meet rising talent

Captain Hayley Matthews will once again lead the charge, backed by vice-captain Shemaine Campbelle and a roster that balances veteran presence with youthful hunger. Two new faces enter the frame—Realeanna Grimmond, the 20-year-old Guyanese all-rounder, and Jahzara Claxton, the fiery fast bowler from St. Kitts—replacing Jamaicans Rashada Williams and Chinelle Henry.

The selections speak to a clear mission: to build a dynamic, battle-ready unit hungry to evolve beyond past performances and forge a bold new chapter.

CWI on the offensive: ‘A chance to demonstrate talent, grit, and character’

CWI Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe underscored the strategic importance of the tour, describing it as a defining opportunity:

“This upcoming tour of England offers our women an important opportunity to reassert themselves on the international stage. It’s a chance to demonstrate the talent, grit, and character that are synonymous with West Indies cricket.”

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Bascombe emphasized the role of the T20 Blaze, the regional tournament that has kept players match-sharp and primed for competition.

“The T20 Blaze competition has come at an opportune time, giving many of our senior and emerging players the chance to stay match-ready and sharpen their skills in a competitive environment. We remain committed to strengthening our women’s programme and believe this tour is a vital step forward in our collective journey.”

Captain Matthews on the mission: ‘Put that talk into action’

Speaking with the conviction of a leader ready for war, Hayley Matthews made it clear: the time for theory is over.

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“Going to England is a fantastic opportunity to play one of the best teams in the world for a long time and to really test our skills and put in practice what we’ve talked about off the pitch.”

“The talk is cheap off the pitch; we’re going to put that talk into action and go out against England and play some good cricket. We’ve got the T20Is first, and that’s where we’ve played our better cricket in the past 12 to 18 months, so we’re looking forward to getting the tour off to a good start and play some good attacking cricket the West Indian way.”

“We brought a good team to England and we’re looking forward to putting on a good performance for the crowd over there and all our supporters watching back in the Caribbean. It’s going to be an excellent tour for us to re-establish ourselves as a world class team with world class players.”

“The girls have been working hard since the Pakistan qualification and playing some cricket at the T20 Blaze in the Caribbean. It’s now time to switch up to international cricket, put on a good display and give our supporters something to cheer about back in the Caribbean.”

Full squad and tour management

West Indies Women’s Squad: Hayley Matthews (captain), Shemaine Campbelle (vice-captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Jahzara Claxton, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Realeanna Grimmond, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor.

Team Management: Head Coach: Shane Deitz; Team Manager: Sheena Gooding; Assistant Coaches: Ryan Austin, Damien Wright; Team Analyst: Gary Belle; Physiotherapist: Angelica Holder, Strength & Conditioning Coach: Hector Martinez Charles; Performance Coach: Dr. Nadine Sammy; Media & Content Officer: Nicholas Maitland.

Match schedule: Time to light up England

T20I Series:

  • 1st T20I: Wednesday, 21 May – The Spitfire Ground, Canterbury
  • 2nd T20I: Friday, 23 May – The 1st Central County Ground, Hove
  • 3rd T20I: Monday, 26 May – Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford

ODI Series:

  • 1st ODI: Friday, 30 May – County Ground, Derby
  • 2nd ODI: Wednesday, 4 June – Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester
  • 3rd ODI: Saturday, 7 June – The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton

As they prepare to light up English pitches, the West Indies Women are not just chasing victories—they’re on a mission to reclaim respect, reignite pride, and remind the cricketing world of the Caribbean fire that still burns bright.

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