NEW DELHI: West Indies captain Hayley Matthews won the prestigious ICC Women's T20I Cricketer of the Year award on Wednesday, making her only the second female cricketer from the Caribbean to achieve this honour. The previous recipient from the region was former captain Stafanie Taylor in 2015.
Matthews' exceptional performances with both the bat and the ball contributed to her recognition for the award. In a competitive field, she surpassed other top players, including Ellyse Perry from Australia, Sophie Ecclestone from England, and Chamari Athapaththu from Sri Lanka.
This accolade underscores Matthews' impact and excellence in T20I cricket, adding to the recognition of West Indies' women's cricket talent on the global stage.
"I have been really blessed to have a pretty good year with West Indies wearing those colours, performing really well and helping the team," Matthews said, according to ICC.
"Growing up I saw many of my idols getting these type of awards a lot, so to be able to come out as a player with this award is special for me," she added.
Matthews, the No. 1 ranked ICC Women's T20I all-rounder, showcased an extraordinary performance during a bilateral T20I series against Australia, marking a journey that earned her the ICC Women's T20I Cricketer of the Year award.
In the series, Matthews displayed remarkable consistency with scores of 99*, 132, and 79, posing a significant challenge for the Australian side. Her unbeaten 99 in the first game was followed by an astonishing 132 in a successful run-chase of 213 in Sydney.
This innings contributed to a world-record run-chase in women's T20Is, and Matthews set several records, including the highest individual score in a women's T20I run-chase. Her overall tally of 310 runs in the series set a milestone for the most by any player in a women's T20I bilateral series.
Matthews continued her stellar form in the T20 World Cup, amassing 130 runs and claiming four wickets. In the entire year of 2023, she accumulated 700 runs, the highest by any player in a year in Women's T20Is. Additionally, her bowling performances were noteworthy, securing 19 wickets at an impressive average of 16.21.
Matthews' exceptional all-round contributions and record-breaking feats in 2023 established her as a standout player in women's T20I cricket, deserving of the ICC Women's T20I Cricketer of the Year accolade.
(With ANI inputs)
