Jahzara Claxton has etched her name into the history books by becoming the first Kittitian to be selected for the West Indies Women’s senior cricket squad.
The 19-year-old fast bowler has been named in a 15-member squad for the upcoming white-ball tour of England from May 21 to June 8, 2025, which features three T20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals at venues across the country.
Claxton joins 20-year-old Realeanna Grimmond as the two changes made from the squad that contested the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in Pakistan last month, as the pair replace Jamaican wicketkeeper batter Rashada Williams and all-rounder Chinelle Henry in the squad. The two changes were made from the squad that contested the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in Pakistan last month.
Grimmond caught the eye of the coaching staff after she averaged 39 in this year’s CG United Women’s Super 50 Cup across six matches as Guyana finished third. Her best performances came in the half-centuries (71 and 72 not out) scored against Jamaica. She also hit 48 not out against Windward Islands and 30 against Leeward Islands.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, said the England tour presents a timely opportunity for the team to bounce back from the disappointment of not qualifying for this year’s 50-over World Cup in India and reaffirm their credentials on the international stage.
“This upcoming tour of England offers our women an important opportunity to reassert themselves on the international stage,” Bascombe said. “It’s a chance to demonstrate the talent, grit, and character that are synonymous with West Indies cricket.”
West Indies head coach Shane Deitz was equally optimistic, noting that the T20 format, which opens the tour, has been the team’s stronger suit in recent months.
“We’ve got the T20IS first, and that’s where we’ve played our better cricket in the past 12 to 18 months,” Deitz said. “We’re looking forward to getting the tour off to a good start and playing some good, attacking cricket the West Indian way.”
The squad will be led by captain Hayley Matthews and includes senior players like Stafanie Taylor and Shemaine Campbelle, alongside emerging talents such as Claxton and Grimmond.
West Indies Women’s squad: Hayley Matthews (captain), Shemaine Campbelle (vice-captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Jahzara Claxton, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Realeanna Grimmond, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor.
Tour fixtures:
T20I Series
May 21 – Canterbury
May 23 – Hove
May 26 – Chelmsford
ODI Series
May 30 – Derby
June 4 – Leicester
June 7 – Taunton
(JC)
