Williams eager to tour with Taylor
Published:Friday | October 29, 2021 | 12:11 AMLennox Aldred/Gleaner Writer
Jamaican right-handed opening batter Rashada Williams will be embarking on her second overseas tour with the West Indies senior team when they travel to Pakistan for a three-match One Day International (ODI) tour.
Williams was named in a 15-member West Indies squad for the tour of Pakistan on Tuesday as well as the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe.
This will be the second time that Williams will be touring Pakistan, having done so in 2019. The right-hander, who had a stellar series against South Africa in the recent home series, where she scored 157 runs in three matches, is looking forward to playing alongside her countrywoman and captain, Stafanie Taylor, who returns to the side after missing the South Africa series.
“It’s great to have Stafanie back in the team. It’s also great that I will be playing alongside my role model,” Williams said. “It’s something I have been thinking about, but to be in the middle with her giving me advice and helping me through my innings will be a dream come through.”
Williams was the standout player in the recent home series against South Africa, checking all the boxes during her resolute batting against a very proficient South Africa attack.
Staying Grounded
Scores of 37, 42, and 78 not out against South Africa ensured that she booked her ticket to Pakistan and Zimbabwe, however, the former Eltham High and current Mico University College student says she won’t be getting ahead of herself as she aims to put her best foot forward to help the West Indies team to come out victorious on the tour.
“My goals are very simple and that is to score runs for the team,” she said. “The key is to apply myself whenever I get the opportunity and execute and play my game by batting through the overs and keeping the strike ticking over. I know once I bat long, the runs will come.”
The Windies Women have been drawn in Group A of the qualifiers with Ireland, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, and Sri Lanka. Williams is confident that the West Indies will be one of the teams that will be heading to the World Cup.
“I think the team that is going to the World Cup qualifiers stands a strong chance, and there is no doubt about it that we will qualify for the World Cup,” she said. “We have senior players who can guide the younger players, so it’s just for all of us to go out there and play as a team and execute our roles.”
The West Indies Women are due to arrive in Pakistan on Monday, after which they will travel directly to Zimbabwe after the ODI Series for the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers from November 21 to December 5.