Deandra Dottin very much ready: Stafanie Taylor

She may not have played international cricket for the last 12 months, but Deandra Dottin’s importance has sure not lost on West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor.

“Deandra is very important to our team and with the level she’s at, we’re trying our very best to manage her,” said Taylor.

“It’s not going to be an easy one, she’s coming back from a long injury, but with the level she’s at, she’s quite up there in terms of her importance and recovery. We’re very pleased with the way that she’s going. Deandra’s shoulder is still a bit off but she’s pretty much ready, 98 per cent.”

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Dottin’s right shoulder needed corrective surgery and months of rehabilitation. Although she is yet to attain full fitness, the Windies will want her to play just because of what she brings to the table. While her fifer against Bangladesh (5/5) in 2018 are the best figures in the tournament’s history, her 38-ball ton is the fastest in the competition and was the first one in the sport, too.

West Indies last won the T20 World Cup in 2016. Taylor had then bagged the ‘Player of the Tournament’ award, thanks to her 246 runs and eight wickets.

“We’re really trying to focus on our own game and playing our best cricket,” said the 28-year-old. “Every time we go out there, we want to play fearless – that’s the brand of cricket we definitely want to play and it worked when we performed in India. That’s what we try to instil our players and that’s what we’re looking to achieve in this tournament.”