Hayley Matthews

She was only 16 when West Indies handed her a T20I debut against New Zealand in 2014, and her first ODI followed in the same year. Two years later she was central to the side that lifted the 2016 World Twenty20, contributing 66 from 45 balls in the final. During the 2015-16 season she also spent time in Australian domestic cricket and turned out for Hobart Hurricanes in the first edition of the Women's Big Bash League. In 2018, with the World Twenty20 approaching, she was appointed vice-captain of West Indies.

Her career hit a setback in September 2019, shortly before a series against Australia, when a six-member CWI Disciplinary Tribunal suspended her for eight matches. The tribunal found she had breached the Cricket West Indies Code of Conduct in connection with an alleged incident following a training session. Once the suspension was served, she returned to the side.

Today Matthews is a key figure for West Indies, opening the batting and sending down off-breaks. By 18 she had already featured in the Men's First Division, sharing the crease with Shai Hope, and she has used equipment from Carlos Brathwaite's brand. Drawing on her own path, she argues that girls benefit from playing with boys at junior level because it exposes them to a higher standard early on, and she remains in contact with many of the boys she once led at Under-13 level.

Cricket was not her only sporting talent. She threw the javelin for Barbados and took gold in the under-18 category at the 2015 CARIFTA Games. Having balanced athletics and cricket for a time, she ultimately committed to cricket.