FLAIR PLAY – West Indies bring the entertainment.

The West Indies always add sparkle to short-form cricket. ICC Women’s T20 World Cup champions in 2016 and currently ranked seventh in the ICC T20I standings, they arrive with pedigree, power, and flair. Clare McEwen speaks to bowler Karishma Ramharack ahead of the World Cup.

The West Indies – or the Windies as they are known – are unusual in that the team is made up of players from across the Caribbean. What they have in common, is a brand of excitement and flair that no-one else brings to the game.

Led by their talismanic and hugely experienced captain, Hayley Matthews, they sometimes struggle for consistency but never lack charm. Matthews is likely to be their biggest influence with the bat and if she’s firing – which she usually is – can put on serious numbers. Ten years ago her Player of the Match performance helped West Indies win the final with a top score of 66. She has now amassed over 2,700 T20I runs during her career, including three centuries. 

With the ball, the Windies boast the oldest player in the tournament, Afy Fletcher. Also part of that victorious 2016 team, Fletcher has made over 100 T20I appearances with more than 100 wickets too.

With back-to-back wins in the tri-series in Dublin and their third-highest T20I total ever  – against Pakistan in that series –  the Windies may be hitting their stride at just the right time.

Whatever happens, you can be sure the they’ll be worth watching, as Karishma Ramharack explains.

What does the T20 World Cup mean to you? 

Absolutely everything. It’s of course a cricketer’s dream. You know, it’s one of the biggest tournaments, if not the biggest tournament that you could participate in as a cricketer.

So, it means everything to me really. 

What’s your first memory of the T20 World Cup? 

My debut World Cup, where I made the team of the tournament [in 2023]. 

Yeah, that’s something that stands out to me. 

What do you enjoy most about the T20 format? 

I think the fact you have to think on your feet as fast as possible. It keeps you in the game by having to do that. 

So, for me, it’s all about being able to react to those situations.

Ten years ago, West Indies lifted the trophy. What do you think your chances are this time round? 

If we’re being superstitious, maybe it’s the year again for us to do it [smiles]. 

But I think we’re in a good space. Of course, we’re looking to put on a show.

Which opponents are you most looking forward to coming up against?

At the start of the World Cup, we’re going to meet the world champs right now, New Zealand.

It’s important for us to start well and to end well. Just to get through those two teams – New Zealand and England – our first and last games in the group stage. Those are important games for us. 

To get past those will be very important. 

How do you feel about playing in the big iconic grounds in a World Cup? 

Looking forward to playing at Lord’s, for sure. 

It’s the home of cricket and we’re really, really excited as a team to finally play there –  some of the girls have not done so before.

For me, I’m very excited to go there, especially to play against England at home. It’s gonna be a big game. 

What do you think the atmosphere is going to be like?

I can’t even imagine, but I hope that, whatever, it goes well for this women’s team [laughs].

How would you describe West Indies’ progress since the last T20 World Cup? 

I think we take it in strides.  I believe that players are definitely improving and that’s very, very important for the team.

I think we have a lot of youngsters who are putting their hands up and giving us performances here and there. 

So as long as we all put them together, we can have the perfect game.

Speaking of young players, who are the young players or emerging stars we should be looking out for? 

Definitely, Jahzara Claxton.

From the time I’ve seen her, she’s been a massive, massive talent for us.

The way she has improved coming into the international stage, it’s just amazing to see how she has grown.

I’m looking forward to seeing her put her hand up and taking us over the line.

How would you describe the West Indies’ style of cricket?

There’s always excitement – we put on a show, for sure. 

And of course, we’re the underdogs.

We’re looking forward to bringing that excitement, that flair we always do.

With all of that, it’s about getting the right combinations and getting over the line again.

Why should people unfamiliar with women’s cricket watch the T20 World Cup?

I think, where the game has grown massively over the years, the support has been there. I know there’s no doubt that England would not show up.

Even when we play a series in England, the crowd is so massive that I feel just having this World Cup in England, it’s gonna be such a great thing for that.

I believe crowd support is very important and it’s such a massive stage that you can’t miss it. 

You definitely can’t miss it.

You’re a role model to young cricketers now. How do you find that? 

It’s very strange. As you know, I would have looked up to a lot of the girls growing up myself.

I take it as an opportunity to help, to share experiences, and just give back to the community back home.

I try to portray myself in a way that girls would like to be as well. 

How do you feel your season is, personally, going so far? 

I think coming over into England, prep has been going really well.

The entire team has done the work to get us through the stages that we will need to get to. 

I believe that we’re very confident about our skills right now. The way we’ve planned. 

Even when we make a mistake, we know that okay, this should not happen.

And that’s the good part about it, knowing where we can mess up and how we can fix it in the next ball or the next shot. 

For me it’s just about remembering those things and executing on the day.

And you’ve had a bit of practice with the English weather as well over the last week.

That’s very changeable, I must say.

Some days are very cold and then some days it’s very hot. 

But the fact that we’re here and able to acclimatise, the prep we’ve had, it’s very important for us going into the World Cup. It’s a plus for us. 

What’s the future of West Indies cricket looking like?

A lot of youngsters coming up. A lot of talent that we’ve not been able to see on any international stages yet. 

So I think we’re in pretty good hands, especially with the talent that we’re seeing coming through the system.

However, the way we develop their talent is what’s gonna tell us what the future looks like. 

I’d love to say we’re dominating the next few years but all that has yet to be seen.

I do think we have a pretty good bunch coming up who can take West Indies cricket further.

Credits: West Indies Cricket, ICC

West Indies T20 WWC fixtures

Sat 13th June 18.30: v New Zealand, Hampshire Bowl

Thurs 18th June 18.30: v Scotland, Headingley

Sun 21st June 10.30: v Sri Lanka, Bristol

Weds 24th June 18.30: v England, Lord’s

Sat 27th June 14.30: v Ireland, Bristol

All matches live on Sky Sports.