Head Coach of the West Indies Women cricket unit, Courtney Walsh, stated that there is no such thing as too many praises for the way they have gone about business in the ICC 50-over World Cup so far.
Speaking on Wednesday regarding his side’s two wins in as many matches after beating hosts, New Zealand and defending champions, England, Walsh reckoned, “I’m really happy with the way the ladies have been playing and praises can’t be too high for them, everybody has played a part… good batting, good bowling, good catching, it’s not the perfect game as yet but the way they’ve been playing I’m very happy with that.”
“I think it is a very good performance, I think it has been tremendous, when you beat New Zealand in New Zealand for the first time and then you beat England for the first time in a World Cup in two close games, you have to be happy and proud of the way the ladies have performed,” he added.
The former pacer indicated that these wins served as an added boost to the team’s confidence. “I think winning those two games, the morale in the side is only going to get higher and better, the girls believed in themselves before we got here and this will help us believe a lot more,” he said.
Walsh reasoned that it has been a collective effort from the team, taking pressure off the regular batting trio of Deandra Dottin, Hayley Matthews, and Stafanie Taylor.
He reasoned, “The beauty about it is that everyone has chipped in so far in the two games, it’s not just the big three who we are always depending on for runs, Hayley did well in the first game with some good partnerships and in this game [against England] opening with a good partnership… someway in the middle we probably lost our way but [Shemaine] Campbelle and [Chedean] Nation steadied the ship and put on a very interesting partnership, over 100 runs and I think that is what kept us in the game… It is good to be winning these close games but I think the fighting spirit these ladies showed on the field is very encouraging for me.”
Highlighting the efforts of Campbelle, Walsh pointed out that the wicketkeeper/batter has been steadying the ship throughout the middle phase of the game and playing the role they need.
“She’s been showing some form since she got here and it is good for her to get a half century because that gives you more confidence as well, she has been getting some 20s and 40s, looking the part and so in the middle with steady partnerships and so on, exactly the role we want her to play, bat deep…,” he indicated.
