Since the World T20 victory in 2016, West Indies Women have endured mixed results in both T20Is and One Day Internationals. The experienced Britney Cooper hopes the upcoming bilateral series against host England is the start of them returning to some level of consistency.
Though positive results have been better in T20Is, they have only won three matches from 14 – two abandoned – in their last four T20I bilateral series.
Additionally, they were unable to progress to the semi-finals at the World T20 earlier this year in Australia.
With their last T20I series in England being a 1-0 series defeat, as two matches were abandoned, Cooper on Monday disclosed the additional preparation due to COVID-19 regulations on quarantine has aided them and she hopes they can have a consistent run this series.
“First of all, I believe we have to be a lot more consistent,” Cooper declared at the Virtual briefing. “That is something we have been falling short in these last few years and even series against England. We need to build partnerships and continue to apply pressure whenever we get the chance to put England under pressure.”
West Indies boast some of the most destructive batters in the format, but have not lived up to expectation. In their last bilateral series prior to this year’s World Cup, they lost all five matches to India at home, and it was the batting that disappointed the most.
The Trinidadian Cooper, who has played 67 T20Is, said she is confident that the batting will click in England.
“Yes it (the batting) is a concern; since we are here, we had a lot of middle practice, and it shows the girls are assessing the conditions and getting their form in order. I know all of us will peak just at the right time.”
The Caribbean ladies are preparing for five T20 Internationals against England, starting on September 21, and Cooper says they have gelled well with the new management staff and are excited to see the output of this series.
In England, West Indies Women have won only once in eight attempts, with five going to England and two abandoned.
West Indies Women squad: Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, Shemaine Campbelle, Afy Fletcher, Hayley Matthews, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Chedean Nation, Natasha McLean, Chinelle Henry, Aaliyah Alleyne, LeeAnn Kirby, Sheneta Grimmond, Karishma Ramharack, Shabika Gajnabi, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Kaysia Schultz.
