Fifteen of the brightest West Indian women cricketers have touched down in Chennai with an eye firmly set on the future, beginning a two-week high-intensity training camp at the iconic Super Kings Academy. The initiative, part of Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) long-term India development programme, aims to sharpen skills, particularly against spin, in conditions that have historically challenged Caribbean batters.
The group, led by former West Indies captain Merissa Aguilleira, will train from August 13 to 30 under the guidance of an expert coaching panel. Aguilleira is joined by assistant coaches Ryan Hinds and Tremayne Smartt, along with team manager Yasmine St Ange, ensuring a strong support structure for these promising talents.
For many, this opportunity is more than a training assignment; it represents a rare chance to immerse themselves in the subcontinent’s unique cricketing environment. Known for its challenging pitches and spin-friendly surfaces, Chennai provides an ideal backdrop for players to refine their technical awareness, work on adaptability, and build mental resilience, all vital components for succeeding on global stages.
The players will also benefit from the same high-level expertise that powered the men’s camp last December. Under Academy Director Sriram Krishnamurthy and his specialist team, the focus will be on skill-specific drills, tactical simulations, and practice games designed to replicate real-match pressures. Beyond on-field technicalities, sessions will also spotlight cultural integration and mental conditioning, an aspect CWI sees as crucial for young players evolving into international performers.
The 15-member contingent reflects both depth and diversity in the West Indies’ women’s cricket pipeline. Among the senior internationals are Ashmini Munisar, Zaida James, Djenaba Joseph, Jahzara Claxton, Jannillea Glasgow, Realeanna Grimmond, Trishan Holder, Mandy Mangru, and Nerissa Crafton. Adding youthful promise are current and former West Indies Under-19 players Naijanni Cumberbatch, Niya Latchman, Samara Ramnath, Shunelle Sawh, Steffie Soogrim, and Selena Rose, all eager to leave an impression in an environment designed to test and nurture.
Speaking on the significance of this programme, CWI’s Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, underlined the board’s ambition to create sustained opportunities for women’s cricket. “Following the tremendous success of our male players’ training camp in December, we are proud to now extend this opportunity to our most promising female cricketers. The Super Kings Academy in Chennai offers a world-class training environment that allows our players to experience cricket in a different part of the world,” he said.
With the Women’s T20 World Cup and other global assignments on the horizon, this camp could be a pivotal step in preparing the West Indies’ next generation for high-stakes competition. The investment in spin preparation, coupled with exposure to one of cricket’s most storied training cultures, could well prove defining.
For now, under the humid Chennai skies, the Caribbean stars-in-the-making are hard at work, absorbing lessons that could bridge the gap between potential and performance.
(Quote sourced from Press Trust of India)
