Dottin: WI Women need to step up in England

Deandra Dottin -
Deandra Dottin -

WEST Indies Women’s hard-hitting batter Deandra Dottin said all the players must rise to the challenge as they prepare to face the England Women in a five-match T20 series, starting on September 21.

Dottin, who has played little cricket after injuring her right shoulder in early 2019, spoke to reporters on Zoom, on Thursday.

The Windies Women will be without experienced off-spinner Anisa Mohammed. All the players were given the option not to tour if they had any covid19 safety concerns.

Asked who is going to step up in the absence of Mohammed, Dottin said, “At the end of the day we as West Indies Women are players. Whatever is required of us at the time then that’s when we have to click. Everybody in this team has to step up, is not just one and not the next. It is a team playing sport and a team role.”

The tour was only confirmed on August 25 after India and South Africa cancelled their tours of England because of covid19.

Dottin had shoulder surgery in June 2019, which has followed by rehabilitation. She did feature at the 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in February and March, but is short of playing time since early 2019.

On her health, Dottin said, “To be honest I am feeling pretty good at this moment…I have been working on specific stuff as in strengthening back (after) my injury and getting back out there. My form is there, but there is still more areas that I can improve on. But, all in all, I am actually feeling pretty good and glad to be here in England to play this series.”

Dottin said the forthcoming series would motivate other women’s teams to get back on the field.

“It is very good to actually get in some cricket with what’s going on with covid19, but I think it is a (great) chance for both teams. As you know all games are being televised, so it will be worldwide and more exposure (for the players). I think it is a good step to actually encourage other teams or show them that you definitely have safety and they are well taken care of in this covid time so you could actually not panic.”

On the preparation for the series against England Women, Dottin said, “Training has been good. We have been doing different things. We have the social distancing, but I think it is pretty exciting. I think all the girls are actually excited to be back out to play cricket and for us to be together and playing and training as one team.”

Dottin thinks the sixth-ranked regional team can compete with second-ranked England, saying, “I think our chances are very good. At the end of the day we came here to play cricket. We are not taking anybody for granted or underestimating any of the girls or the England team. We just came here to play hard cricket and that is what we are actually going to play.”

The West Indies men’s team toured England from early June to the end of July for a three-match Test series. After the series, Windies captain Jason Holder said it would help Cricket West Indies financially if England tour the West Indies by the end of 2020.

Dottin, asked if the England Women should also return the favour, said, “Sure I will like that to happen, but we can only control what we can so if it cannot work then we will accept that, but if it can we will definitely accept that as well.”

The T20 series between West Indies Women and England Women will end on September 30.

Comments

"Dottin: WI Women need to step up in England"

More in this section