Inaugural West Indies Women’s Academy commences featuring 16 Rising Stars

ST.

JOHN’S,Antigua–

Cricket West Indies (CWI) yesterday announced the new West Indies Women’s Academy programme with the first High Performance campscheduledtotakeplace from30Julyto13Augustat the West Indies High Performance Centre at Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG)inAntigua.TheWest Indies Women’s Academy will feature an intake of 16Women’sRisingStars.

This marks a pivotal moment in the development of West Indies Women’s cricket in the region and a key step in the professional journey of the 16 players aspiringtobecomingpartof the next generation of West Indies Women’s senior players.

The West Indies Women’s Academy programme will provide a long-term development and coaching plan for these emerging players with the opportunitytolearnandtrain alongside some of the best coaches and mentors in women’s cricket. This first West Indies Women’s Academycampwillfocuson refining their skills, enhancing their tactical acumen, and nurturing their mental resilience to prepare them for the challenges of internationalcricket.

CWI’s Talent Pathway Manager Steve Liburd said:

“I feel very proud that the inaugural West Indies Women’sAcademyhasbeen launched with this first twoweek camp in place to start the programme. It’s taken a lot of planning over the last 18 months, so to see it comingtofruitionisamajor step forward for the development of the next generation of West Indies Women’s cricketers This firstAcademycampisgoing to be different to previous HighPerformancecamps,as it will be more holistic in developingplayersall-round game.”

Liburd added: “Most of the Academy intake are continuing from the West Indies Rising Stars Under 19steamthatparticipatedin the inaugural ICC Women’s Under19 CricketWorld Cup earlier this year This is a major investment and developmenttosupporttheir careers with the aim of b e c o m i n g s e n i o r international cricketers. Our mandate at the West Indies

Women’s Academy is aid theirprogressintothesenior West Indies Women’s team andtoequipthemtobecome topinternationalcricketers.”

The West Indies Women’sAcademyispartof CWI’s long term strategic plantoinvestinanddevelop women’s cricket across the regionandakeystageinthe WestIndiesPlayerPathway By providing a nurturing environmentandpathwayin which these young players can grow and flourish, CWI aims to create a sustainable pipelineoftalentfortheWest Indies Women’s team.The WestIndiesMen’sAcademy was launched in 2022 and willcontinuein2023.

Fullsquad

·AsabiCallender

·JahzaraClaxton

·NaiJanniCumberbatch

·EarnishaFontaine

·JannilleaGlasgow

·RealeannaGrimmond

·TrishanHolder

·ZaidaJames

·DjenabaJoseph

·KDJazzMitchell

·AshminiMunisar

·SamaraRamnath

·ShaliniSamaroo

·SteffiSoogrim

·AbiniStJean

·KateWilmott

Switzerland’s forward #10 Ramona Bachmann (C) controls the ball during a match against New Zealand. (Sanka Vidanagama) tosqueezeintothelast16on goal difference from New Zealand.

A full house in Dunedin sawtheco-hostsheld0-0by a stubborn Switzerland as theFootballFernsbowedout of their home tournament in tears.

The 1995 champions Norway needed a win and they did it in style against World Cup debutants the Philippines,whothemselves werestillinwithachanceof reachingtheknockouts.

Sophie Roman Haug scored a hat-trick as the Philippines’ fairytale j o u r n e y c a m e t o a shudderinghalt.

With Norway well ahead, New Zealand now neededtobeatSwitzerland.

The hosts had the better of the first half with a string ofchances,thepickofwhich saw forward Jacqui Hand rattletheposton24minutes.

As Norway chalked up the goals in Auckland, the New Zealanders upped the intensity, knowing only a win would be good enough toadvance.

But the goal they so desperately needed never came.

“There are a lot of tears outthere,buttheyshouldbe so proud to finish on four points,” captain Ali Riley said.

-AustraliawaitonKerrToday, Australia will hope to avoid the same fate astheirco-hosts.

The Matildas must beat Olympic champions Canada to guarantee a place in the last 16 but are still sweating on their skipper and talismanicstrikerSamKerr She has declared herself available after a calf injury butitremainstobeseenhow muchofapartsheplays.

“Everyone involved in sport knows that with calf injuries it’s one thing that you’re available, but there’s also risk when you come back from a muscle injury,” said Australia’s coach Tony Gustavsson.

Also in Group B, surprise-package Nigeria need just to avoid defeat against already-eliminated Irelandtoprogress.

FormerchampionsJapan and title contenders Spain meet to decide who tops Group C with both already intothelast16.