The Windward Islands Cricket Board of Control (WICBC) will hold its women’s tournaments at Windsor Park in Dominica over the coming week. Saint Lucia, the defending double crown champions, travelled on Saturday. The national squad includes three West Indies players.
The squad is once again led by all-rounder Zaida James. The 20-year-old left-arm bowler and middle-order batter has played 40 international matches for the West Indies, compiling 201 runs in 27 innings, and taking 15 wickets in 15 innings.
James is joined by 26-year-old Nerissa Crafton, who has played six times for the Maroon Warriors. There had been some doubt as to whether ‘Breezy’ would have been able to compete in the Windwards tournament. The hard-hitting all-rounder, who bowls medium pace and bats in the top order, has been dealing with shin splints.
The third regional player is Selena Ross. The 18-year-old medium pacer took three wickets in four matches during the West Indies campaign in Malaysia for the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup last month.
Missing from the Saint Lucia team, however, will be Qiana Joseph. The explosive opener now lives in St Kitts & Nevis, and has chosen to represent the Leeward Islands going forward.
Aged 24, Joseph made her West Indies debut in 2017, playing South Africa and England at the age of just 16. She returned in 2021, taking six wickets and making 37 runs in three T20 International (T20I) fixtures and four One Day International (ODI) matches.
Joseph played just one T20I and two ODI matches in 2023, before being recalled in 2024. Reinvented as an opening bat, she hit two T20I half-centuries and an ODI 50 between October 2024 and January 2025. Saint Lucia cricket will miss the Gros Islet native, who is making a career change just as she is in the best form of her life.
The remainder of Saint Lucia’s team includes veteran campaigners like former captain Malika Edward, returning player Ashlene Edward, and Teaddie Crawford. Youngsters such as Namiah Marcellin, Niesha Cherry, Cian Felix, and Skyy Smith have had significant regional experience at age-group level.
Saint Lucia plays its first game against Grenada on Sunday in the Super 50 part of the Windwards competition. Following the 50-over tournament, the T20’s will be contested.
Team Saint Lucia:
Zaida James (captain)
Namiah Marcellin (vice-captain)
Malika Edward
Selena Ross
Ashlene Edward
Niesha Cherry
Cian Felix
Skyy Smith
Natalia Philip
Teaddie Crawford
Nerissa Crafton
Makada Dubois
Elisha James
Kanicsher Auguste
Walter Emmanuel (coach)
Roseline Preville (assistant coach/manager)
