Women’s World Cup 2022: West Indies SWOT Analysis

The West Indies Women would be expected to showcase a good performance in the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 starting March 4. After their Women’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2016, the team has not done anything exceptional and had a poor outing in the previous edition of the 50-overs tournament, having managed just two victories from seven league matches.

As the West Indies kickstart their World Cup campaign against the hosts New Zealand in the curtain-raiser at Bay Oval, here’s the SWOT Analysis of the Stafanie Taylor-led side.

Strengths:

The West Indies would be heading into this tournament with a wealth of experience under their belt. In fact, eight players who were a part of the victorious T20 World Cup 2016 squad in India have found mention in the 2022 ODI World Cup squad.

On top of that senior player Deandra Dottin’s return to international cricket after a career-threatening shoulder injury would indeed be a morale-booster for them as they hunt their maiden 50-overs world title.

Weaknesses:

The West Indies team might look like one of the experienced ones on paper, but their bowling has failed to intimidate the opposition teams in this format ever since the 2017 Women’s World Cup.

The Caribbean team has failed to make an impact with the new ball post the last edition of the quadrennial event having picked up a wicket every 69.8 deliveries in the opening 10 overs of the innings which is the worst among their fierce rivals in the upcoming tournament.

Opportunities

While the team does have a major problem to address regarding their first 10 overs, it can all change with effect from the marquee tournament as they have fast bowling legend, Courtney Walsh, as their head coach.

At the same time, the team also has an excellent pacer in Cherry-Ann Fraser who has the ability to make the ball do the talking in these conditions and combined with that some valuable piece of advice from Walsh can take the confidence level of the bowlers to greater heights.

Threats:

West Indies do have the ability to dismantle any team on their day, but it remains to be noted that the team has not succeeded in creating a good record in the ODI format coming into this showpiece event.

In the last 39 matches that they have played post the 2017 edition of the Women’s World Cup, the Women in Maroon have just won 15, with a dismal win percentage of 40.