Another crushing defeat. Another batting collapse. And yet, despite the mounting frustration of a lopsided series, West Indies Women’s head coach Shane Deitz has urged his players to focus not on the scorecard but on the steep learning curve that this English tour presents.
The West Indies Women were skittled for a paltry 81-9 in the second T20 International County Ground on Friday in what was another performance that mirrored their struggles in the opening game of the series, which they lost by eight wickets despite Hayley Matthews' century. England responded with clinical efficiency, as they chased down the target in just 9.2 overs to clinch a comprehensive nine-wicket victory and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
For Deitz, who has been tasked with rebuilding a team in transition, the result was disappointing but not entirely surprising.
"It's the reality of where we're probably at without a lot of cricket. We’re obviously missing a few big names, but that opens up opportunities for others to come in and learn about the game in different conditions. So we're doing that. We're working hard, trying to get better," Deitz said after the match.
"So these are great opportunities to learn, so that's what we're going to do. We take it on the chin, but obviously it was a poor performance. But we're going to look at ourselves, try to improve every day, and that's all we can do—just get better every day, and that's the message we got to the girls at the moment," he added.
With the absence of experienced campaigners and the inclusion of several young players, the Windies have looked uncertain and ill-equipped to handle the quality and composure of the England side, particularly in the cold and unfamiliar English spring.
“It’s really cold, but they're going to learn a lot being in this environment and seeing world-class players on the other side as well. So that is a great opportunity for the younger players to learn from them...watch how they adjust to the conditions and how they apply themselves," the Australian noted.
As is often the case, captain Hayley Matthews has borne the brunt of the team’s hopes, both as a leader and as their most impactful all-rounder. However, when she fell for six, only Shemaine Campbelle (26) and Shabika Gajnabi (22) offered little resistance, which underscored Matthews' struggle to carry a team that desperately needs more contributors.
"She [Matthews] has been shouldering the load for a long time, and she wants to be involved with everything, but other players have to step up. Getting into the team is just the start. The hard part is what you do when you get here, how hard you work, and the performances day in, day out — like Hayley does, like Nat Sciver-Brunt does," Deitz reasoned.
"So that's the message, and that's what you have to learn. Learn to be on tour, learn to be in different conditions—all those things are all a part of being a cricketer, and that's what the youngsters are learning fast," he noted.
The T20I series comes on the heels of a disappointing end to the West Indies' campaign at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier, a setback that might have left some teams emotionally flat. But according to Deitz, his squad has responded with fresh energy.
"Not really,” he said when asked if the World Cup qualifier disappointment had affected the squad’s spirit.
"They’ve played a lot of regional cricket since then. So we are now focused on the next 13 months leading to the T20 World Cup here next year. So it's great to be here and see the conditions and get this tour out of the way. But we're a pretty positive team, and it's all about the next day and working hard, and that's what we're going to keep doing," Deitz declared.
With the final match scheduled for Monday, pride will be the only prize on offer, but Deitz and his squad will look for small victories.
“It’s a performance-based game, so we are going to try to get on top of things. We’ve got to play better, and that’s what we’ll try and do in the next game on Monday," he ended.