Joseph's word really helped me to deal with depression: Dottin

West Indies star allrounder Deandra Dottin believes having a word with fellow Caribbean Alzarri Joseph helped her overcome depression while recoving from a shoulder injury which put her out of the game for eight months. The 28-year-old Dottin almost gave up on the game before Joseph's experience from a similar kind of injury in the past made her believe she can continue to play.

“There were points when I felt like I was getting somewhere,” said Dottin. "But there were times when I took 50 steps back, and I was so close to a point when I said 'that's it.' I didn't think I would get back with the West Indies, or even getting back playing cricket at all."

"I felt so restless. I'm a very active person and I couldn't run. It was just therapy back home. It was around that time when I started to get depressed. Speaking to people gave me a boost. I actually had a conversation with Alzarri as he had a similar injury to me," added the swashbuckling allrounder. 

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"He felt the same way but he kept pushing and he gave me some tips on how to keep positive and keep on that track. I found ways to stay on the positive track.”

Dottin is one of the key members of the West Indies squad for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. The mercurial allrounder has been part of all the six editions of the T20 World Cups and has scored 638 runs in 27 games. She also has picked up 26 wickets as well. Dottin also holds the record of fastest T20I hundred off just 38 balls which she hit against South Africa in the 2010 edition -- a record yet to be broken.

Off late, Dottin has not bowled due to her problematic shoulder and skipper Stafaine Taylor insists it would be a challenge to manage her workload. However, Dottin is optimistic about her bowling. “Being able to come back and just be able to bat was massive, but the bowling is coming along good," said Dottin. 

"Cricket is fast evolving, players are improving so much. They're getting stronger, all teams are learning new things. Having been able to watch the men's game and how they do different stuff, that's had a big impact on the girls as well. There are girls trying things that they're seeing men do, and I think it's great.”