Saint Lucia and Windward Islands senior cricket captain Zaida James this week spoke to the loss of West Indies opener Qiana Joseph for the ongoing Cricket West Indies CG United Women’s Super50.
Joseph, 24, has moved to St Kitts and Nevis. After close to a decade of playing for the Windward Islands, the West Indies opener has decided to represent the Leeward Islands for this year’s competition. James, 20, said that this new paradigm presents an opportunity for others to step up.
“Losing Qiana, of course, it’s a huge loss,” she admitted. “But I think it helps us as players to step up in our game. It was sad to know that she’s leaving, but as I said, it’s a lot to take up. And those youngsters coming up like myself and [Jannillea] Glasgow, it shows that we have to step up in our games. And senior player like Afy [Fletcher], really it’s already on us to try to bring Windward Islands to winning games.
“She did bring in a lot to Windwards cricket,” James conceded, whilst noting that Windwards were able to win without the hard-hitting opener. “But with that, it shows that we have a lot of experienced players and growth in our team. I guess it’s her decision. I think it’s probably better for her, it’s what she wanted.”
Despite the addition of Joseph, the Leeward Islands have struggled so far, losing to the Windward Islands and Trinidad & Tobago. Against the Windwards, Joseph made 13 from 15 with a four and a six and bowled one over for 10 runs. Against Trinidad & Tobago, she made nine from 12 inclusive of a six, before she was run out. She also took 1-29 in nine overs with her slow left-arm bowling, dismissing West Indies player and TTO captain Karishma Ramharack, who was caught and bowled.
The Windward Islands, meanwhile, have won one win and a loss on their record. Fletcher and Glasgow starred with ball and bat against the Leewards. Despite a balanced bowling attack and a top-order 31 from Ashlene Edward, the sub-regional team lost their second fixture to Barbados.
This year’s tournament features a number of new and emerging players, including James herself. West Indies captain Hayley Matthews and the veteran Deandra Dottin are absent from the Barbados team, as is Chinelle Henry from Jamaica, all three competing in India’s Women’s Professional League. Seasoned campaigners like Fletcher, Trinidad and Tobago’s Anisa Mohammed, and Jamaica’s Stafanie Taylor are in their respective squads, but those teams are all being led by younger players.
“I think just leading teams, it will teach us a lot about growth, development, and experience,” shared James, a West indies senior player since 2023.
“About the youngsters, you have seen that there’s a lot of progress in the last year. Just looking to maintain themselves as assets to the team, trying to work hard. You have Glasgow, Ashmini Munisar, myself. But I think it just takes a lot of hard work. And you know, we just have to really believe in ourselves at the end of the day.”
