Deandra Dottin, the explosive West Indian all-rounder, has made a sensational return to international cricket after a two-year hiatus. The 33-year-old, who retired abruptly in 2022, has expressed her eagerness to represent the West Indies once again, citing a desire to contribute to the team’s success and mentor younger players.
Dottin’s decision is a major boost for the West Indies ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh this October. With her vast experience and exceptional skills, she is expected to add significant value to the team.
“Representing West Indies in international cricket has always been a matter of great pride and passion for me,” Dottin said in a statement. “I am confident that my experience, maturity, and skills will add value to the team as it has done in the past.”
Dottin’s return comes after a period of reflection and dialogue with Cricket West Indies (CWI) officials, including President Dr. Kishore Shallow. She had previously expressed concerns about the “non-conducive” environment within the West Indies set-up, but it appears that those issues have been addressed.
CWI has welcomed Dottin’s decision, with Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe stating, “Deandra is a player of immense ability and experience. We are pleased with her decision to return to international cricket and be eligible for selection.”
Dottin has an impressive track record in international cricket. She has played 143 ODIs, scoring 3727 runs at an average of 30.54, and 127 T20Is, amassing 2697 runs. She holds the record for the fastest century in women’s T20Is, a 38-ball hundred against South Africa in the 2010 T20 World Cup.
Since her retirement, Dottin has been active on the T20 league circuit, but she has not played competitive cricket since September 2023. She will captain the Trinbago Knight Riders team in the upcoming women’s Caribbean Premier League, which will serve as a warm-up for the West Indies camp in August ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Dottin’s return is a testament to her love for the game and her desire to make a positive impact on West Indies cricket. Her experience, leadership, and match-winning abilities will undoubtedly be invaluable to the team as they aim to achieve success on the international stage.
