Matthews: It would be great to lift the trophy again after 10 years

 DUBLIN, Ireland (CMC):

The sting of missing out on the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup last year still lingers. But ,for West Indies captain Hayley Matthews, that pain has been matched by a renewed belief and the glow of a triumph that feels both distant and vividly close.

“It hit us hard,” Matthews admitted, reflecting on the team’s failure to qualify. “Everyone who was there certainly felt it, and we don’t want to go through a feeling like that again.”

Now, as the West Indies prepare for another global showcase, where they reached the semi-finals two years ago, Matthews insists the squad has matured from the experience. “We have belief. We have grown,” she said.

The Barbadian opener sees a stronger unit than the one that fell short. “When you look at how players have grown, like Chinelle Henry and some of the other youngsters who can make an impact at certain points, I definitely feel we have a stronger team than we did then.”

Preparation, Matthews said, will be key. “It’s about us showing up, having our plans in order, and being really prepared. Once we do that, we have a good chance of progressing well.”

Matthews has also been fine-tuning her own game. With cricket evolving and par scores climbing, she knows openers must adapt quickly.

“Being able to adapt a lot quicker is something I’ve been working on recently, adding more shots to my game that hopefully I’ll have enough confidence to bring out when the World Cup comes around.”

Familiarity with English conditions could prove an advantage. The West Indies enjoyed a white-ball tour of England last summer, and Matthews, along with several teammates, has extensive franchise experience there.

“The crowds are always really good, which leads to a great atmosphere,” she said. “We’re looking forward to more of the same.”

A training camp in England and a tri-series in Ireland, featuring Pakistan in similar conditions, will serve as ideal preparation. “They are probably the closest conditions to what we will face in the World Cup,” Matthews noted.

It has been 10 years since the West Indies last lifted a trophy on that famous night at Eden Gardens. Matthews was just a teenager then, but the memory still defines her.

“Winning a World Cup is the pinnacle of a cricketing journey,” she said. “We certainly take a lot of pride from that experience.”

Now, a decade later, the captain dreams of a repeat. “It would be great if we could redo a feat like that. It might mean even a bit more in a time like this, where we probably aren’t one of the top three or four teams people have pinned to win it. Hopefully, we can prove those people wrong.”