ST JOHN’S, Antigua – The West Indies Women’s cricket team have wrapped up a demanding high-performance camp at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, as Cricket West Indies (CWI) continues to deepen its investment in women’s cricket across the region.
Designed in two phases, the Antigua programme maximized training opportunities by accommodating two groups of players over a five-week span. Each contingent engaged in intensive work under the guidance of Senior Women’s Head Coach Shane Deitz, assistant coach Ryan Austin, and pathway coach Ulric Batson.
Comprehensive training approach
The sessions went far beyond batting and bowling. Players were immersed in a full-spectrum program that included technical refinement, tactical awareness, fitness testing, and targeted strength and conditioning drills. Mental preparation, a crucial element of international sport, was also a central feature.
Deitz explained the rationale behind the structured approach:
“We had a mixture of established players, new players, and fringe players come to Antigua for the last five weeks. It’s been great to be able to focus on some fundamental technical work and some strength and conditioning work. We were also able to conduct fitness testing and have already seen some improvements in a short space of time.”
Strength and conditioning at the core
Deitz credited the work of Hector Martinez, Strength and Conditioning Coach, for pushing the squad to new levels.
“Hector has been pushing the players, and they are responding very positively. The girls will head to the WCPL now and, after the end of that tournament, we will have an intense few months of training which will prepare us for a very important 2026.”
The results of this physical push were already evident in early testing, underscoring the camp’s impact.
Strategic alignment with global development
This Antigua block is one arm of a broader CWI strategy. In parallel, 15 emerging West Indies players are currently in Chennai, India, benefiting from a developmental partnership with the Super Kings Academy. That programme provides exposure to elite facilities, coaching, and competition in one of cricket’s most advanced high-performance environments.
Together, these initiatives demonstrate CWI’s intent to build a player pathway that not only develops regional talent but also ensures the women’s programme can compete at the highest levels of the global game.
Eyeing a demanding year ahead
The calendar ahead leaves no room for complacency. In 2026, the West Indies Women will face a slate of high-profile assignments, including the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England, a home series against Sri Lanka and Australia, and an away tour of Ireland.
The Antigua camp, with its emphasis on technical precision, fitness gains, and mental readiness, was designed to lay the foundation for these challenges. As CWI’s vision unfolds, the women’s programme appears poised to rise steadily toward world-class standards.
