The bleak, rainy conditions plaguing Barbados yesterday would have been lightened by the rarity of a West Indies cricket team returning triumphantly from the sub-continent.
The regional women’s side landed at Grantley Adams International Airport having won the ICC World Cup qualifying tournament in Bangladesh.
They played unbeaten against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Ireland, Japan and Pakistan, with Barbadian all-rounder Deandra Dottin starring in the finals against Pakistan with an impressive knock of 95.
While expressing disappointment in the slipping of her bowling, Dottin was very happy with her batting as she had worked extremely hard in the nets to contend with the steady diet of spin in Asia.
“During the camp I worked hard on my batting because prior to this tour I was not putting together the scores that I know I am capable of getting,” said Dottin.
Stressing that she would still provide the fireworks which gave her the fastest T20 century by a male or female player, Dottin added that she was exercising more caution at the beginning of her innings.
“I went to the qualifier with the aim of moving into the Top Ten, which I accomplished, so I shall be looking to move even higher and to improve on my bowling to maintain the success of my team,” said the powerfully built all-rounder.
Coach and former West Indies opener Sherwin Campbell believes the hard work which the team put in prior to the qualifier paid off with strong individual performances combining for team success.
“We certainly had a number of individual efforts from [Stafanie] Taylor, [Shanel] Daley, Dottin, captain Merissa Aguilleira, Anisa Mohammed and when young Shaquana Quintyne was given the opportunity she played well.
“I am pleased that we were able to give everyone a chance to develop on tour while establishing a winning culture, as I believe that when you go to a tournament you should be go to win,” stated Campbell.
The coach noted that with India coming to the West Indies early next year and with the World T20 being held in 2012, all attention would be paid to maintaining the thrust of developing a pool of players to ensure that the West Indies be equally successful when they meet the bigger guns like England, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.
Captain Aguilleira was pleased with the maturity of the players in recognizing that they were selected for a purpose and in accepting the important role of representing the West Indies people which contributed to the position where one could not predict who would have stepped up for another victory in Bangladesh.
“I am confident that once we build on the current position and maintain our drive, West Indies cricket for women and the men will rise,” she said.
