No one hits harder than Deandra Dottin

IT would be difficult to find anyone in women's cricket who can hit a cricket ball harder than Deandra Dottin. The right-handed batter made her debut for West Indies way back in 2008, and was one of the team's most prolific performers before retiring from international cricket in 2022.

She was the first woman to score a century in women's T20 International cricket, in 2010. The Bajan went on to set several records, including being the first woman to hit 100 sixes in international T20 cricket.

She was part of the West Indies team that won the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in 2016 in India.

The Trinbago Knight Riders women's captain is a special player with athleticism that is unmatched. Dottin, who is a former national junior athlete for Barbados in javelin, is one of the best fielders around.

At 32, she has played T20 cricket all over the world featuring in The Hundred Women's tournament in England and in the Women's Big Bash League in Australia. She controversially missed out on representing Gujarat Giants in the inaugural Women's Premier League in India earlier this year, as there was some confusion over her fitness.

However, Dottin remains a highly sought-after talent and continues to ply her trade in T20 leagues globally.

Dottin leads TKR to inaugural CPL crown

Last year, Dottin led from the front, guiding TKR to the inaugural women's crown, and her quality will again make the TT franchise a title contender.

It was a low-scoring tournament, but Dottin still managed to score 100 runs in three innings, at an average of 33.33, to finish as the leading run-scorer in the 2022 tournament. She scored four sixes in the short tournament, which was the joint best in the tournament.

Dottin will be counting on the quality players around her, including spinner Anisa Mohammed, fast bowler Shamilia Connell and the South Africa pair of Mignon du Preez and Dane van Niekerk.

No stranger to bright lights

Dottin had a memorable 2022, winning multiple titles, leading TKR to the inaugural title and helping Adelaide Strikers claim the Big Bash title. Dottin struck 52 not out off 37 deliveries to lead Strikers to a ten-run win over Sydney Sixers in the Women's Big Bash final in November 2022.

Dottin's medium pace grabbed 2/30 in four overs to limit Sixers to 137 all out.

In the Massy Women's Caribbean Premier League final in September 2022, Dottin cracked 59 off 62 deliveries to steer TKR to a ten-run win over Barbados Royals. Her innings guided TKR to 100/7 in 20 overs, before Royals were reduced to 90 all out in 18.4 overs.

Dottin is often the one who will bowl in the death overs, as she is never shy of stepping up to a challenge.