WI Women’s spinner set to turn out for Ipswich

In the world of sports, it’s not often that you witness the integration of women into high-level men’s competitions.

However, in Barbados, this practice is alive and well in the sport of cricket, with notable West Indies players like Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin having played against their male counterparts.

Adding to this trend, Guyanese and West Indies spinner, Kaysia Schultz, has recently become the latest addition to the Ipswich Sports Club Cricket team as they aim to make their mark in the Barbados Cricket Association’s (BCA) Intermediate Division.

Schultz, 25, made her One Day International (ODI) debut for the West Indies women’s team against England last December.

Anthony Gittens, Ipswich’s acting president told Barbdos TODAY he believed Schultz’s addition would be a major boost for the club.

“I think that having her join us is an honour for our club because it strengthens the idea of improving players. The fact that she would like to join the team and the levels that she has played at, I think that is very important and it shows you that we are probably heading in the right direction,” he said.

Captain Stefan Holder, said Schultz’s inclusion in the team will bring some much needed variation to his side’s bowling department.

“Currently in our Intermediate team we don’t have a leftarm spinner, so that was needed this season and we have that at our disposal right now,” he pointed out.

Holder also underlined the club’s strong support for female cricket, noting that while it was not uncommon for women to participate in men’s leagues in Barbados, Schultz’s arrival at the intermediate level marks a unique milestone.

Meanwhile, Schultz, known as a bowling all-rounder, has risen from her origins in the mining community of Bartica in Region 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Guyana, to the West Indies women’s team.

Speaking with Barbados TODAY, Schultz expressed her excitement about the opportunity to play at Ipswich.

“Being in Barbados, I’m really looking to improve my game all around. I think it’s going to be good for me going forward. As I talked about the challenge previously, you know, I’m just looking to improve my game,” she said.

As a right-handed batter, Schultz is not only aiming to assist Ipswich in its quest to advance in the ranks of cricket at the BCA but also to solidify her position within the West Indies team.

Currently, the West Indies women’s team is in Australia, where they narrowly lost the T20I series and are set to compete in a three-match ODI series.

Schultz’s initial call-up to the West Indies team remains a memorable moment for her, and she understands the significance of maintaining consistency.

“I’m really looking forward to improving my game again, you know, and when that time comes again, you know, I fit in there permanently,” Schultz said.

Considered one of the top female players in Guyana, Schultz also played for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) this season. rawletoney@barbadostoday.bb