Hayley Matthews acknowledges that West Indies Women's cricket has lagged behind in recent years, but as the team's captain, she is determined to put in extra effort to close the gap with other teams. Despite being the 2016 T20 World Cup champions, West Indies are currently ranked sixth, just two months before the next tournament. Matthews, who prides herself on leading by example, believes they are making progress.
Matthews discussed the situation in an interview with ESPNcricinfo's Powerplay podcast, stating that West Indies cricket had fallen behind in the Caribbean. However, she noted that Cricket West Indies (CWI) has recognised this issue and is taking steps to address it. She mentioned various new programs in the Caribbean, including a girls' camp in Barbados by the Barbados Royals, aimed at encouraging young girls to learn and fall in love with the game.
After taking over the captaincy from Stafanie Taylor in 2022, Matthews has been focused on rebuilding the team's depth amid limited resources. CWI has made several efforts, including increasing the number of women on retainer contracts, launching the Women's Rising Stars Under-19 program, and establishing the West Indies Women's Academy. They also improved the senior team's travel conditions, aligning them with the men's team.
While Matthews acknowledges that the impact of these initiatives may take time to materialise, she remains committed to inspiring her team both on and off the field. She is a prominent figure in international franchise cricket, including a standout performance in the 2023 Women's Premier League and the Women's Hundred with Welsh Fire. Her recent record for West Indies is impressive, with notable performances in Australia and Pakistan, including scoring centuries and taking key wickets.
Matthews highlighted the influence of her predecessor, Stafanie Taylor, in leading by example on the field. She aims to emulate this leadership style by setting a high standard for professionalism and teamwork. She stated the need for the team to work harder to catch up with other nations.
As West Indies prepare for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, where they will compete in Group B with England, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Scotland, Matthews remains cautiously optimistic about their prospects, acknowledging the challenges ahead while striving to elevate the team's performance.