Hayley Matthews

Hayley Matthews

Hayley Kristen Matthews is a Right-handed top-order batter and right-arm off-break bowler, who plays for West Indies. She is known for her aggressive approach to playing and hitting. She made her international debut at the age of sixteen against New Zealand in a T20I match on September 27, 2014.

She made her ODI debut on November 11, 2014, against Australia in Sydney. She debuted in Domestic Cricket for the Barbadian cricket team in 2010, at the age of 12. In the year 2022 in July, she was named as captain of the West Indies International Cricket Team over Stafanie Taylor. She became a key player in the squad for her crucial part in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2016 for her 66 runs in 45 balls in the final against Australia. 

History:

Matthews was born on 19 March 1998 in Barbados and grew up in Bridgetown, the bustling capital. Her father, Mike Mathews, was a prominent figure in the cricket scene, playing as a no. 4 batsman and off-break bowler for the Pickwick Cricket Club. Before this, he showcased his talents in the Barbados Under-19 team.

In her early years, Matthews fondly remembers participating in cricket matches with her father and older brother, Wayne Mathews, at home after school. She cherishes moments spent at the Pickwick Club’s former base, Kensington Oval, where she and her brother would dash around the grounds and even join in during breaks.

Following her study at People’s Cathedral Primary School, she seized the opportunity to immerse herself in cricket formally. At just eight or nine years old, she approached the coach of the school’s boys, so that she could be part of the team and her request was promptly granted. Remarkably, by the time she reached 11, she had already been in the esteemed position of team captain.

After completing her primary education, Matthews distinguished herself in Barbados’s contentious Common Entrance examinations, securing admission into the island’s premier secondary institution, Harrison College. Harrison College is often hailed as the ‘Eton College of Barbados’, a testament to its esteemed reputation. Among its distinguished alumni are sporting legends such as Sir Pelham (“Plum”) Warner, revered as the “Grand Old Man” of English cricket, and Sir Clyde Walcott, further solidifying its status as a house of sporting excellence.

Shortly after commencing her studies at Harrison College, Matthews wasted no time in making her mark on the cricket field. Joining the school’s previously all-boys Under-13 team as an opening batter, her impact was immediate, contributing significantly to the team’s triumph in a tournament. In her final year within the Under-13 category, she got the role of captain, marking a historic moment as the first female to hold such a position within the team.

Reflecting on her journey, Matthews advocates for talented young female cricketers to participate in boys’ teams. She attributes much of her growth and skill development to her experiences in such environments, particularly in facing fast bowling and refining her fielding abilities. At 18, she had already made appearances in the Men’s First Division for the Pickwick Club, sharing the field with notable male players, including West Indies batter Shai Hope.

Teams: 

Hayley Matthews debuted in Domestic Cricket at the age of 12, in 2010 for the Barbadian cricket team. In July 2022, she was named the captain of the Barbados cricket team for the prestigious cricket tournament at the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham, England. While playing in Domestic for her nation, she also got the opportunity to play in overseas Demoestic matches and leagues for her excellent performance.

During the 2015–16 season, Matthews got a chance to play in Australia for domestic cricket. She became a part of the Tasmanian Roar in the Women’s National Cricket League. She donned the colors of the Hobart Hurricanes in the inaugural edition of the Women’s Big Bash League. Notably, in a thrilling WBBL (Women’s Big Bash League) encounter against the Melbourne Stars, she showcased her excellence by scoring 77 runs in just 51 balls. Again in November 2018, her name was drafted in the mix. This time she was placed in the squad of the Hobart Hurricanes for the 2018–19 Women’s Big Bash League season.

Besides Australia, She also got an opportunity to play in England’s Domestic matches. In 2021, Matthews was selected by the Welsh Fire team for the inaugural season of ‘The Hundred’. In April 2022, the Welsh Fire secured Matthews for the 2022 season of The Hundred in England through a purchase.

Mathews became a part of India’s WPL (Women’s Premier League) in 2023. The Mumbai Indian strategically bought the talented top-order batter for INR 40 Lakhs during the inaugural WPL auction. Known for her aggressive batting style, she is a valuable addition to any T20 squad. MI will heavily rely on Hayley’s ability to kickstart the innings during the crucial powerplay overs, making the most of her explosive batting prowess.

Throughout the tournament, her exceptional contributions stood out as she amassed 271 runs and claimed 16 wickets, significantly bolstering her team’s efforts to secure the WPL title. Her remarkable performance didn’t go unnoticed, as she emerged as the leading wicket-taker and also got the prestigious Purple Cap. Furthermore, her stellar all-around display earned her the Player of the Tournament.

International:

Matthews made her international debut for the West Indies at just 16 years old, in a Twenty20 International against New Zealand in September 2014. Shortly after, she entered the One Day International (ODI) arena, showcasing her batting prowess with a solid 55 runs from 86 balls in the first game of a four-match series against Australia. Her performance continued to impress, notching up 89 runs from 108 balls in the second game and 60 runs from 81 balls in the third.

Since her debut, Matthews has been a consistent presence in the West Indies squad, playing a pivotal role in the team’s success, including their triumph in the 2016 World Twenty20, where she scored 66 runs from 45 balls in the final.

Recognizing her talent and contributions, Cricket West Indies (CWI) offered Matthews a women’s contract for the 2018–19 season. She was subsequently named to the West Indies squad for the 2018 ICC Women’s World Twenty20 tournament and appointed vice-captain. Her stature continued to rise, earning selection for the 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and reaching a milestone of 50 wickets in WT20Is in September 2020.

Matthews’ stellar performances led to further recognition, as she was offered a central contract from Cricket West Indies in May 2021. She continued to represent her country, featuring in the 2021 Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament and earning a spot in the West Indies team for the 2022 Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.

Achievements and Awards:

Hayley Matthews became the 8th woman player to get the most wickets in a single ground, by taking 19 wickets in Women’s ODI matches. She became the 5th player in the most wicket category by taking 11 wickets by catching and bowling in Women’s ODI matches. She was the leading run-scorer in 2023 by putting in 700 runs in the Women’s T20I. She also became the 5th player to score 3 fifties in consecutive matches in Women’s T20 International matches. She became the 10th WI woman player to reach the fastest 2000 runs by taking 88 innings in T20 International matches.

Hayley was the Player of the Tournament in the 2023 Women’s Premier League. She also got the prestigious Purple Cup in the same season of WPL for taking 16 wickets. Matthews, reigning as the top-ranked ICC Women’s T20I all-rounder, delivered a stellar performance in a bilateral T20I series against Australia and became a standout player. Her remarkable journey culminated in the prestigious recognition of the ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year award.

Stats:

Hailey Mathews is a talented player in the West Indies team. She played 80 ODI matches and scored 2071 runs with 4 centuries and 6 half-centuries. Her highest score in this format is 119. In this format, she picked up 94 wickets and her best bowling figure of her is 4/15. 

In the T20 format, she played 88 matches. In those matches, she scored 2026 runs. In the shortest format, she scored 10 half-centuries and 2 centuries. Her highest score in this format of 132. In this format, she picked up 91 wickets and her best bowling figure of her is 4/10. 

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