West Indies captain Hayley Matthews has been crowned the ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year for 2023, adding to her accolades as a member of the T20 Team of the Year.
Matthews is only the second West Indies player to receive this honor, following former skipper Stafanie Taylor in 2015.
Matthews, who holds the No.1 ranking in ICC Women’s T20I all-rounders, outshone competitors Ellyse Perry (Australia), Sophie Ecclestone (England), and Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka).
Making her debut at the age of 15, Matthews expressed her excitement about the achievement, emphasizing the significance of the win for her.
In 2023, Matthews showcased exceptional performance, amassing 700 runs and taking 19 wickets in 14 T20I matches.
Notably, she played a pivotal role in the record-breaking run-chase against Australia in Sydney, where she scored 99*, 79, and an astonishing 132 in pursuit of 213.
This innings set several records, including the highest individual score in a women’s T20I run-chase.
During the T20 World Cup, Matthews contributed with 130 runs, four wickets, and four catches.
Her outstanding year earned her recognition in the ICC teams-of-the-year for 2023. Alongside Nicholas Pooran, Matthews represented West Indies in the prestigious selection.
Despite Shai Hope’s impressive One-Day International performance, where he averaged 68 from 17 matches with three centuries, he did not secure a spot in the ICC One-Day International squad.