Hayley Matthews Crowned ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year for 2023

Dubai: West Indies captain, Hayley Matthews, has been named the ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year for 2023, marking a historic achievement as only the second player from the West Indies to receive this prestigious accolade. The former skipper, Stafanie Taylor, was the previous West Indian cricketer to claim this award in 2015.

Matthews, a versatile all-rounder, solidified her reputation with stellar performances, showcasing exceptional batting prowess and impactful contributions with the ball. Her standout moments were particularly evident Down Under, where her outstanding skills were on full display.

Expressing her joy and gratitude for the award, Matthews emphasized the significance of following in the footsteps of her cricketing idols.

“I have been really blessed to have a pretty good year with West Indies, performing really well and helping the team,” Matthews said. “Growing up, I saw many of my idols getting these types of awards a lot, so to be able to come out as a player with this award is special for me.”

In a competitive field, Matthews triumphed over tough contenders, including Australia’s Ellyse Perry, England’s Sophie Ecclestone, and Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu. She had scores 700 runs from 14 innings while taking 19 wickets in 2023.

Matthews orchestrated a remarkable performance against Australia in a bilateral T20I series during the latter part of the year. Her outstanding contributions included scores of 99*, 132, and 79, showcasing her prowess as a formidable opponent. The highlight was Matthews’ phenomenal unbeaten 99 in the first game, followed by a breathtaking 132 in a run-chase of 213 in Sydney.

Her 132 not out set a new world record for the highest individual score in a women’s T20I run-chase. The series saw Matthews amass a total of 310 runs, the highest by any player in a women’s T20I bilateral series.

Matthews also made significant contributions during the T20 World Cup, amassing 130 runs and taking four wickets along with four catches. Her remarkable all-round performance in 2023 included a total of 700 runs and 19 wickets, solidifying her position as a true cricketing force.