West Indies Taylor targets Top 10 spot
03/11/09
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts -- West Indies opener Stafanie Taylor will be looking to make another jump up the International Cricket Council’s batting rankings when the Windies Women face England Women in a three-match One-Day International Series. Taylor, the teenager from Jamaica, improved 11 places to Number 11 following the recent series in South Africa and will be looking to break into the Top 10 when she faces England. The first match is on Wednesday at Warner Park in St Kitts at 9.30 am.
Speaking ahead of the series the confident Taylor noted that some good knocks against the world champions would see her move up the ladder. Last month in South Africa she won the Player-of-the-Series award thanks to a brilliant 108 not out in the first match – her maiden international century.
“It feels really good to know that I have moved up the rankings and it feels good to know that I am so close to the Top 10 now. Before we went to South Africa I said my goal was to get good scores so I could move up the rankings and also to help the team to win,” she said. “I achieved part of that but I know I still have some work to do. I want to get better and better and I also want to be part of a team where we can play consistently and also challenge for victory.”
Taylor is also good off-spinner and is also hoping to improve her bowling.
“I am at a level know where I am pretty happy. My control has improved and even when I don’t get wickets I am able to prevent the opponents from scoring. I just want to get better and this series is a good opportunity.”
This series will be the first time England will be taking on the Windies, led by wicket-keeper Merissa Aguilleira, since the ICC Women’s World Cup in Sydney, Australia, back in March of this year. The home girls will be hoping they can improve on their ODI performances after losing the series against South Africa 2-1 (including a tie in the fourth match). However, the West Indies women rebounded to secure a comprehensive 3-0 victory in their T20 Internationals against South Africa and will hope their run of form will continue against England, the world champions in ODI and T20I.
TEAMS:
West Indies: Merissa Aguilleira (Captain), Anisa Mohammed (Vice Captain), Shemaine Campbelle, Britney Cooper, Shanel Daley, Deandra Dottin, Cordel Jack, Stacy Ann King, Pamela Lavine, Chadean Nation, Amanda Samaroo, Tremayne Smartt, Shakera Selman, Stafanie Taylor.
England: Charlotte Edwards (Captain), Caroline Atkins, Tamsin Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Holly Colvin, Lydia Greenway, Isa Guha, Jenny Gunn, Danielle Hazell, Laura Marsh, Beth Morgan, Ebony Rainford-Brent, Nicky Shaw, Anya Shrubsole.
Schedule of matches:
November 4: 1st ODI – 9.30 am
November 5: 2nd ODI – 9.30 am
November 7: 3rd ODI – 9.30 am
November 9: 1st T20 International – 10.30 am
November 10: 2nd T20 International – 10.30 am
November 12: 3rd T20 International – 10.30 am
