The 2016 T20 world champions are actually ranked sixth, simply two months out from the following version of the match, however Matthews, who takes satisfaction in main her aspect by instance, believes they’re heading in the right direction.
“The truth of it’s that we in all probability dropped behind a bit within the Caribbean,” Matthews tells ESPNcricinfo’s Powerplay podcast. “But it surely’s additionally one thing that Cricket West Indies have seen and I do see them making and taking steps so as to get that rising once more.
“There’s so many programmes which can be beginning to type within the Caribbean. We have now an academy staff within the West Indies now and, throughout the islands, islands are beginning to do their very own factor.
“In Barbados, the Barbados Royals have been in a position to simply begin a ladies’ camp, which is basically good, freed from cost for each single woman who needs to return out in Barbados and simply study the sport.
“An important factor is falling in love with the sport. That is what it was for me. I used to be in a position to develop up as a younger woman simply on cricket fields falling in love with the sport and that fireside nonetheless burns shiny in me as much as this present day.”
In 2021, CWI elevated the variety of girls on retainer contracts by three to 18 and in 2022 launched the Ladies’s Rising Stars Underneath-19s programme.
In 2023, CWI launched the West Indies Ladies’s Academy and elevated the senior staff’s finances by USD500,000 so gamers might fly enterprise class and be accommodated in single rooms for all worldwide assignments, bringing their journey preparations into line with the lads’s staff.
Whereas the central contracts and improved journey situations can deliver nearly speedy advantages, the U19 and academy programmes will take longer.
“We in all probability are behind the remainder of the world and [need to] perceive that to catch up, we have to be doing double the work”
Hayley Matthews
Within the meantime, Matthews is decided to proceed inspiring her staff on and off the sphere.
Not solely is she a daily on the worldwide franchise circuit – she was main wicket-taker within the inaugural WIPL in 2023 when her Mumbai Indians aspect gained the title and is at the moment having fun with her fourth yr with Ladies’s Hundred aspect Welsh Fireplace – however she additionally has a breath-taking document for West Indies over the previous 18 months.
“One factor I realized from a participant like Stafanie Taylor along with her captaincy is the way in which she was in a position to exit and set an instance on the sphere,” Matthews says. “She performed a large function in each huge efficiency that we had and he or she led by instance, scoring runs, taking wickets.
“I’ve tried to emulate that a part of it and simply being on the entrance of the staff and setting an instance on the sphere particularly, however off the sphere as nicely, making a tradition the place we are able to all be one, all of us have one purpose that we wish to go in direction of.
“On the identical time upholding requirements as nicely, upholding professionalism and simply holding one another accountable and understanding that on the finish of the day we in all probability are behind the remainder of the world and perceive that to catch up as nicely, we have to be doing double the work.”
With that final line in thoughts, Matthews strikes a steadiness between being optimistic and life like relating to ambitions for her staff on the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in October, the place West Indies are in Group B with England, South Africa, Bangladesh and Scotland.
“We’re moving into as underdogs once more and there isn’t any doubt about that.” Matthews says. “I feel we’re in a reasonably good group in the intervening time wanting on the two of them, however look, we clearly do wish to get out of that group stage and it could be nice to win.
“One factor we might be taking a look at is the truth that a T20 recreation will be gained by means of a efficiency and it solely takes one actually huge one on a day. We noticed that once we went to Australia. Nobody, in all probability ourselves, would’ve ever thought that we might be taking place there and chasing 212 to win a match.
“That places us in fairly good spirits going right into a T20 World Cup figuring out that if considered one of us or two of us can deliver our A recreation every day, we are able to in all probability do plenty of harm.”
“With Deandra, one factor I can say for positive is she is somebody who, when she steps onto the sphere, she goes to offer 100% each single time,” Matthews says. “It is fairly contemporary information for us, this has solely come about over the previous couple of days or so.
“I wish to have discussions along with her and with the staff as nicely. Clearly that is actually vital and I feel that is a very powerful factor for us proper now. Till I’ve had these conversations I in all probability desire to not make any extra feedback.
“However look, she’s somebody who’s at all times going to have the ability to be there to offer 100% on the sphere it doesn’t matter what and I feel that is one thing that might undoubtedly be needed in any staff.”
Valkerie Baynes is a basic editor, girls’s cricket, at ESPNcricinfo