The West Indies Women will start the first ever International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) for the period 2022-2025 with an eight-match home series against New Zealand Women in Antigua next month, followed by England Women in December of 2022.

The West Indies Women will play 66 international matches home and away across the three-year period, plus there will be a major ICC Women’s World Cup tournament each year. West Indies start the 2023 year with a tri-series in South Africa featuring India as the teams build up to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, South Africa 2023. The other major ICC tournaments to follow during the FTP are the Women’s T20 World Cup Bangladesh in September to October 2024 and the Women’s Cricket World Cup India in September to October 2025.

All of the One Day International Series from 2022 to 2025 will form part of the ICC Women’s Championship (IWC) which will feature 10 teams with the inclusion of Bangladesh and Ireland as the profile of Women’s cricket grows around the world. ​ Each team will play eight Series, ​ four at home and four away with the top five teams in the IWC table qualifying automatically for the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup. In addition to the aforementioned England and New Zealand tours, West Indies will play Bangladesh and Ireland in home ODI series for the first time ever. West Indies four away series will be against India, Australia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

CWI Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams said, “The first-ever FTP put out by the ICC reflects the increased prominence of Women’s Cricket and will be an incentive for continued investment by Cricket West Indies (CWI) in the Women’s game. CWI has greatly increased investment into the Women’s game in the last few years and the aim across this upcoming FTP cycle is to increase the levels of consistency from our Women across formats, both in bilateral series and world events.”

The ICC FTP is a result of a collective effort of Full Members with ICC’s coordination and support. The FTP ensures a level of certainty of bilateral cricket fixtures across the three cricket formats. The exact dates and venues for each Series will be announced in due course by Cricket West Indies (CWI) following consultation with each ICC Member nation. ​

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The West Indies pulled off another upset as they beat England by seven runs to secure their first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup victory over the defending champions.

After edging out hosts New Zealand in their opening encounter, West Indies were 81 for no loss before Sophie Ecclestone’s incredible 21st over saw three wickets fall to halt their momentum.

But Shemaine Campbelle and Chedean Nation put on 123 for the fifth wicket to set England 226 to win, six more runs than Heather Knight’s side had ever chased down to win a World Cup game.

The 2017 winners stuttered frequently in reply before a 61-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Ecclestone and Kate Cross seemed to be taking them to victory, however two wickets in four balls in Anisa Mohammed’s 48^th over snatched it for the West Indies and left England winless from their first two games.

The West Indies won the toss and chose to bat but rode their luck after England dropped five catches.

Deandra Dottin was saved when Lauren Winfield-Hill put her down off the very first ball of the game before Tammy Beaumont dropped Hayley Matthews on eight off the bowling of Anya Shrubsole.

Matthews responded by dispatching Brunt for two fours in the seventh over and punished Cross for failing to hang on to a caught and bowled chance when she was on 33 by crashing her for six two balls later.

Ecclestone’s spin was introduced in the 17^th over, but it was in her third over that she made a real impact.

Her 13^th delivery was unlucky for Matthews as she was caught at third by Shrubsole, departing for 45 from 58 balls including two sixes.

Three balls later, Dottin had to go after being run out by a direct hit from Danni Wyatt as Kycia Knight went for a run that was never on.

Captain Stafanie Taylor was then sent back for a golden duck and in five balls the West Indies had slipped to 81 for three and two new batters were at the crease.

Campbelle broke the boundary drought, striking the first four for 10.2 overs but Knight was then caught by Wyatt who rocked back as she held on to a powerful shot to leave the West Indies 98 for four after 26.1 overs.

Campbelle and Nation went about rebuilding, and benefitted from a bucketful of extras, Brunt conceding five wides for the second game in a row.

More dropped catches and a missed run out hampered England, Ecclestone’s figures of four maidens, three for 20 overs a lone bright spot from a disappointing display in the field.

The 100 partnership between Nation and Campbelle came up off 139 balls Nation contributing 38, Campbelle 53 and extras the rest.

Nat Sciver got the breakthrough with a low full toss as Campbelle chopped on for 66 from 88 before Chinelle Henry fell for a two-ball duck as the Windies clawed their way to a hard-fought 225 for six.

After bagging a duck in the opening defeat to Australia, Winfield-Hill’s batting woes continued but this time she could consider herself very unlucky as Dottin took an early contender for catch of the tournament, an outstretched right hand in a full superwoman pose dismissing the opener for 12.

Captain Heather Knight was then caught behind for five off the bowling off Matthews, the initial check for a stumping showing Knight got bat on ball.

The West Indies also missed chances but they were able to capitalise when it really counted.

Sciver, a centurion last time out, went for just two sending a slog sweep to mid-on before Amy Jones’ desire to get the run chase going backfired, Matthews taking a good low catch to reduce England to 72 for four.

Beaumont survived an lbw review on 44 but her reprieve did not last long as she was trapped in front by Mohammed for 46 to deepen England’s troubles.

A promising partnership of 60 between Sophia Dunkley and Danni Wyatt came to an end when the former went for a big shot and was caught by Taylor.

Wyatt would soon needlessly follow with Brunt also departing as England lost three for two.

But the tailenders put England into a winning position before Cross was cruelly run out at the non-striker’s end to bring Shrubsole to the crease and when she was bowled by Mohammed the West Indies could celebrate a second nail-biting win.

Scores in brief

West Indies beat England at University Oval, Dunedin by seven wickets

West Indies 225/6 in 50.0 overs (Shemaine Campbelle 66, Chedean Nation 49 not out; Sophie Ecclestone 3/20, Nat Sciver 1/49)

England 218 all out in 47.4 overs (Tammy Beaumont 46, Sophia Dunkley 38; Shamilia Connell 3/38, Anisa Mohammed 2/24)

Player of the Match: Shemaine Campbelle (West Indies)

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Dunedin, New Zealand- West Indies Women defeated defending ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup champions, England Women by 7 runs in University Oval in Dunedin.

Winning the toss and batting first, West Indies Women posted 225/6 from their 50 overs, thanks to an unbeaten 66 from Shemaine Campbelle with Chedean Nation narrowly missing out on her first Cricket World Cup half-century, she finished on 49 not out. Earlier in the innings, Hayley Matthews added 45 runs. Bowling for England, Sophie Ecclestone finished with figures of 3/20 from her 10 overs, while Nat Sciver was next best with 1/49.

England were bowled out for 218 in 47.4 overs with Tammy Beaumont their top-scorer with 46, followed by Sophia Dunkley with 38. Shamilia Connell was the pick of the West Indies bowlers with 3/38 from 10 overs, next best was Anisa Mohammed with 2/24.

Speaking after the match, Anisa Mohammed said, “To win two games against two of the top teams in this tournament is definitely a motivation for us and it is confidence for us knowing we can defeat top teams. There are a lot of game-changers on this team so it was good seeing some of us put up our hands and take us over the line. I know a lot of teams are counting us as underdogs… we have nothing to lose, it’s a matter of us keep believing in each other and that we can win matches and I’m sure we have quite a lot of teams to surprise in this tournament.”
The West Indies Women will travel to Hamilton next, where they will take on India on March 12 in a Day/Night encounter at Seddon Park. First ball is at 2:00pm (March 11, 9:00pm Eastern Caribbean Time/ 8:00pm Jamaica Time).

Match Summary

West Indies Women

225/6 (50 overs)

Shemaine Campbelle 66 Sophie Ecclestone 10-4-20-3

Chedean Nation 49* Nat Sciver 8-1-49-1

England Women

218 all out (47.4)

Tammy Beaumont 46 Shamilia Connell 10-1-38-3

Sophia Dunkley 38 Anisa Mohammed 4.4-1-24-2

Player of the Match Shemaine Campbelle

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ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) and Apex Group today announced an extended partnership which will see Apex Group (Apex) become the title sponsor of the three-match Apex Test Series between West Indies and England in March 2022.

Apex Group, a global provider of financial, sustainability and environmental services, will feature prominently on the global television broadcast, as well as prime pitch and wicket branding placements, and the Apex logo will also appear on the breast of the West Indies Test kit for the duration of the Apex Test Series. Apex will be granted access to the West Indies team for marketing activation and content and will deliver several sustainability initiatives involving the participation of West Indies players.

CWI’s and Apex Sustainability Partnership commenced in October 2021, ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with the Apex brand appearing on the West Indies’ ICC T20 World Cup shirt. Apex is providing sustainability and environmental advisory services over a three-year period as CWI’s Exclusive Sustainability Partner. By providing CWI with annual carbon footprint assessments, Apex will help lead the way in driving sustainability in cricket across the region by supporting CWI in creating an action plan to reduce and offset climate altering outputs, including international travel.

The Apex Test Series will be played for the newly-minted Richards-Botham Trophy, named in honor of legends Sir Vivian Richards and Lord Ian Botham. The Apex Test Series opens appropriately at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua from March 8-12, followed by the second Apex Test at Kensington Oval, Barbados from March 16-20. The third and final contest will be at the idyllic Grenada National Stadium from March 24-28. All three Apex Test matches are part of the ICC World Test Championship with both West Indies and England vying for points to challenge for qualification for the World Test Championship final in 2023.

Johnny Grave, CWI’s CEO said: “We’re delighted to build on our growing relationship with Apex for the upcoming Apex Test Series, which continues to be the most anticipated and highest profile international sports event in the Caribbean.  With the West Indies versus England Test rivalry dating back nearly one hundred years, this deeper partnership with Apex enables CWI to make cricket more sustainable as we move towards a second century of West Indies cricket and build the next generation of cricketers across the Caribbean.”

Peter Hughes, Founder and CEO of Apex Group said: “Following a challenging two years for sport, we are pleased to be a part of the return of International Test Cricket hosted in the West Indies. This is an important partnership for us, as we look forward to further leveraging the combined global platform Apex Group and the West Indies represent, to raise awareness for driving greater environmental sustainability in the sport; for fans, players and future generations.”

MATCH SCHEDULE

Apex Test Series, West Indies v England (10am local time/9am Jamaica Time)

March 8-12: 1st Apex Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua

March 16-20: 2nd Apex Test at Kensington Oval, Barbados

March 24-28: 3rd Apex Test at Grenada National Stadium, Grenada

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