West Indies captain Hayley Matthews will not feature in the third and concluding One-Day International against England set for Saturday in Taunton. The decision follows a shoulder injury Matthews sustained while fielding in the series opener in Derby, which led to her missing the subsequent match in Leicester.
After consulting a specialist in London on Thursday, a cautious approach was deemed necessary to avoid worsening the injury. With the series already out of reach for the West Indies, their focus is shifting towards the imminent home series against South Africa, commencing with an ODI in Barbados next week.
“It’s unfortunate Hayley’s picked up an injury and she won’t be available for the last ODI here in England,” said Shane Deitz, head coach of the West Indies. “She’s played a lot of cricket over the past few years and obviously injuries are part of being an elite level athlete in all sports.”
The absence of Matthews presents a chance for other players to shine. “We will miss her greatly on and off the field, but there’s a great opportunity for other players to step up as Realeanna Grimmond did in the second ODI,” Deitz added. “She played a great innings in Hayley’s role, so it’s a chance for others to fill the void she leaves with bat, ball, and leadership.”
The medical team is currently considering the best approach for Matthews’ long-term recovery to ensure she returns to peak form, maintaining her stellar career.
Despite the team’s 3-0 loss in the T20I series, Matthews was named Player of the Series and continued to impress in the first ODI with an innings of 48, though West Indies lost by 108 runs. She was sidelined for the second match, which saw England secure the series with a 143-run victory.
In Matthews’ absence, Shemaine Campbelle will lead the West Indies as they aim to conclude an otherwise challenging tour on a positive note.
