ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Marquee batsman Stafanie Taylor has been appointed the new captain of West Indies Women, replacing the long-serving Merissa Aguilleira.The change was announced by the West Indies Cricket Board yesterday, as it named the 18-member training squad for the home series against Pakistan starting next month.
Aguilleira led the side for six years, during which time they managed to reach the final of the ICC World Cup in 2013 and the semi-finals of the last three Twenty20 World Cups.
However, chief selector Clive Lloyd said the time had come for a change.
“Merissa has been there for a long time and did a pretty good job, but we feel the time is right for a new leader and we have chosen Stafanie,” he said.
“She has done well for Windies Women with bat and ball, and has led Jamaica Women successfully, so leading the team would not be alien to her.”
He added: “It’s a change that we hope will bring new energy to the team and take it from strength to strength. We believe we can develop a pretty good women’s team for the future and we see Stafanie as the person that could give us that impetus for the future.
“Stafanie has played quite a lot, she has been ICC Player-of-the-Year and she will be able to lead by example.”
Taylor has been one of the most prolific batsmen in the women’s game in recent years. The 24-year-old right-hander has garnered 3 115 runs from 84 One-Day International, already with five centuries and 20 half-centuries.
In 62 Twenty20s she has managed 1 814 runs at an average of 36, with 16 half-centuries.
In contrast, Aguilleira has struggled with the bat, especially in recent times. She has not scored a half-century in over three years and managed only 69 runs from ten ODI outings last year and 86 runs from 12 T20 innings.
WICB president Dave Cameron said he believed the changes would be “in the best interests” of the squad.
“The directors have confidence in the decision made by the selectors and accept that it has been made in the best interests of the women’s team,” he said.
“Stafanie has held a senior role in our women’s team for some time and has been a good role model for the younger players. She is someone who we believe can take on more responsibility and we congratulate her on this appointment.”
He added: “We also would like to thank Merissa for her leadership of the Windies Women over the last six years, a period during which she helped to establish the side as one of most competitive in the world.
“She was the longest-serving West Indies Women’s captain, leading the team to the Final of the ICC Women’s World Cup in 2013 in India and the semi-finals of the last three ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup.”
Meanwhile, 20-year-old off-spinner Karishma Ramharack has been included in the training squad as the only new face, while Kyshona Knight, Chedean Nation and Vanessa Watts have been recalled.
Seamer Shakera Selman and leg-spinner Shaquana Quintyne have also returned to the set-up following injury.
The squad will be in camp in Barbados later this month for two weeks.
TRAINING SQUAD – Stafanie Taylor (captain), Shakera Selman (vice-captain), Merissa Aguilleira, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Stacy-Ann King, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Shaquana Quintyne, Karishma Ramharack, Tremayne Smartt, Vanessa Watts.