TKR women coach Samuels keen to emulate winning brand

TRINBAGO Knight Riders (TKR) women’s coach Robert Samuels wants his squad to continue the rich history of the TKR brand in the Massy Women’s Hero Caribbean Premier League (WCPL).

The inaugural WCPL will be held at Warner Park in Basseterre, St Kitts from August 31 to September 4.

The WCPL will feature three teams – TKR, Guyana Amazon Warriors and Barbados Royals.

T20 star Deandra Dottin will captain TKR and off-spinner Anisa Mohammed will serve as vice-captain.

The TKR men’s team have set the standard since the CPL bowled off in 2013, winning four titles in nine years. No other team have won the title more than twice.

Samuels said the TKR women’s team are eager to follow in the footsteps of their formidable brothers.

Samuels said, “I am happy you mentioned that because that is exactly where we are going to go, to try to ensure that the TKR name stands up and stands out because the men have done it and we want the women to follow suit.”

Prior to the WCPL the three women’s teams will play in the SKYEXCH 6ixty at Warner Park from August 24-28. The 6ixty is a T10 tournament which will be played for the first time featuring both the women’s and men’s teams.

Samuels said the TKR women will train three times before the T10 tournament bowls off.

Samuels is excited that Dottin is leading the TKR women's.

“I am very pleased (that she is the captain). As you mentioned there is no second guessing the power of a Dottin, the prowess of a Dottin and her ability with bat and ball…she as the leader I am sure will inspire, I am expecting her to inspire and will inspire all the other players to go out there and play positive cricket.”

Speaking more about Dottin and maintaining TKR’s winning culture, Samuels said, “The type of cricket that Dottin usually plays is the type of cricket that will go far in the 6ixty and also the T20 leg of the tournament. Her type of play, her ability in the field, her ability with the ball and her ability with the bat I am sure would inspire everyone. I am expecting them to follow suit in terms of playing exciting wonderful cricket and ensure that the TKR brand is on show.”

Earlier this week, TKR completed their 14-member women squad by signing Hayley Jensen of New Zealand, South African Sune Luus and American Geetika Kodali.

Samuels is satisfied with the additions to the team.

“I think we have a nice balanced squad…the foreign signings I believe are very, very good just to give balance to the team and also variety to the team. I think going into this competition TKR should look to do very well.”

The pair of Luus and Jensen will bring experience to TKR. Luus is an all rounder who bowls leg break and is also a right-handed batter. She has played 106 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 91 T20 Internationals.

Jensen is a medium pacer with 30 ODIs and 45 T20s under her belt and medium pacer Kodali has played six T20s at international level.

TT’s Lee Ann Kirby, Jamaican Natasha McLean and Barbadian twin sisters Kyshona and Kycia Knight are expected to be valuable assets to the team.

Samuels, who is the West Indies women’s assistant coach, said the WCPL can help develop the game in the region.

“I think this should be the catalyst for continued development. I saw the (West Indies) Under-19 tournament on (live) streaming (and) I was very pleased at the young ladies that I saw, the talent that we have is still bountiful and plentiful.”

Samuels also wants a West Indies Under-15 team to be chosen to earn more experience at that age.

“For years we have only had senior teams,” Samuels said.

Trinbago Knight Riders squad: Deandra Dottin (captain), Anisa Mohammed (vice-captain), Hayley Jensen (New Zealand), Sune Luus (South Africa), Geetika Kodali (USA), Lee Ann Kirby, Kyshona Knight, Kycia Knight, Natasha McLean, Sheneta Grimmond, Caniesha Isaac, Jannillea Glasgow, Steffie Soogrim, Shawnisha Hector.