ICC Women’s World T20: 5 youngsters to watch out for

#1 Hayley Matthews, West-Indies (Mat-33, Runs-641, SR- 107.19, Avg-20.03, Wkt-34, Avg-16.79)

Hayley Matthews: A wonderful young talent

20-year-old Barbadian cricketer Hayley Matthews plays as an all-rounder for hosts and defending champions, West Indies. Equally strong in cricket and on the track, she preferred cricket over athletics, despite her Gold medal in the Javelin throw at the 2015 CARIFTA Games.

Sacrificing Athletics career wasn’t an easy thing to do at such a young age but she chose the ball and ball, making her international debut at just 16. In very first ODI series, she smacked 3 impressive back-to-back fifties.

She has been a regular figure in West-Indian setup ever since. She opens the batting and sometimes, also opens the bowling for her team.

Matthews’ most telling performance came against the three-time World T20 champions Australia in World T20 final in 2016, where she smashed 66 runs off 45-balls in the chase and also took one wicket in the first innings. She was adjudged the Player of the Match for her scintillating performance.

In 2018, Matthews has been doing great with the bat, having scored 222 runs in eight innings at an average of 27.75 and strike rate of 126.13. She stands at No.12 in the batting rankings, second in all-rounders and fourth in the bowling charts. A player of her calibre is rare to find.

Under the captaincy of Stafanie Taylor, young Matthews could possibly be replicating her heroics from World T20 2016 once again.