West Indies women’s team pacer, Shamilia Connell, has set her sights on leading the side to a series win over England in the five-match T20I series later this month.
Connell, 28, has played 41 matches in the format and captured 23 wickets with a best performance of three for 29. During a Zoom Conference with the media yesterday, Connell revealed her goals for the series.
“Personally, yes [I have set goals], to be the leading wicket-taker. I haven’t had a better series especially against England so I guess this is my chance to actually make my mark, no added pressure so I am just going to do my best,” she said.
The management of the team has already noted the impact the bowlers have had over the years, labelling them as the more consistent department of the side.
Connell is expected to open the bowling alongside her countrywoman, 31 year-old Shakera Selman and together, the two have forged an impressive union.
Of their partnership, Connell explained, “It’s been very good. Shakera has a lot of experience in the game. She takes a lot so we have a lot of discussions and stuff like that and she pushes me. She is a good role model.”
Like Selman, Connell believes the side has the adequate experience among them and with the newbies, the mixture is perfectly suited for a good showing.
“I believe that’s a good thing [to have so many experienced players], we have some youths as well who bring that sort of mixing as well and we have some good experienced players here that can be a problem,” Connell noted.
However, with five months off the field, both West Indies Women and England Women will be looking to restart their campaign on a positive note.
During the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, while most teams would have been subjected to an equal wait off the field, Connell did not see the playing field being level since the impact has been critical in the Caribbean.
“I wouldn’t say a levelled playing field but I guess everyone has been doing their individual work. Not all the girls would have been getting a full run out back in the Caribbean.”
Both teams have been neck-and-neck in the format, having faced each other 17 times and coming out with eight wins each and one tied encounter.
Nevertheless, Connell was happy to be in England and kick start their training. She expressed, “Now being here in England for the last couple of weeks I have been seeing the girls fine tuning and stuff like that so yes we would be able to put up a good fight.”
The fast bowler highlighted that the team was confident of a good series but was wary that they need to be at their best.
“We are confident, we are putting in the work, the girls have been working hard and I believe we will be giving a good fight in this series…I believe this is a good opportunity for us to go out there and at least try to do our best because we haven’t had much chance to do that,” she stated.
The series bowls off on September 21.
