‘Got out there and enjoy it’ – Head Coach Shane Deitz’s carefree advice to West Indies Women ahead of Australia assignment

West Indies are set to take on the reigning world champions, Australia, on their home turf over the course of the next two weeks. Leading the charge for the West Indies in his inaugural series as head coach is none other than Shane Deitz, a former South Australia wicketkeeper-batter with prior coaching stints for the Bangladesh and Netherlands women's teams. Despite having assumed his role just last month, Deitz is determined to make his mark with this squad.

Australia, despite their recent stumble in the Ashes and an overall draw in both white-ball series, will enter the contest as strong favourites. The West Indies, on the other hand, are embarking on their first bilateral tour of Australia since 2014. Despite a history of difficulties, they've recently found their stride in the T20 format, triumphing in their last five encounters following a string of 15 consecutive defeats. With the series opener set to unfold in Sydney, the 48-year-old has imparted a simple yet profound message to his charges,

“Got out there and enjoy it. Enjoy the challenge and play with freedom, we’ve got nothing to lose. Australia is the world's best team for a long time now. We've got to find an identity for how we want to play. Using that natural ability and talent and letting that flow is the way I'm looking to do it. Play with a smile on your face, have fun,” Deitz conveyed to ESPNCricInfo.

Hayley Mathews leading from the front

This philosophy resonates well with Captain Hayley Matthews, a key player in the West Indies lineup, who is slated to join the Melbourne Renegades for the upcoming Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) following this tour. Matthews, who made her ODI debut at the tender age of 16 during the 2014 tour, has been in fine form, notching up half-centuries in recent ODIs. Elevated to the captaincy last year in place of Stafanie Taylor, she brings with her a wealth of experience.

In T20 Internationals this year, she boasts an impressive average of 43.33 with the bat and 15.78 with the ball, having previously been the leading run-scorer and wicket-taker for the West Indies at the 2022 ODI World Cup. Her recent stellar performance in the WCPL final serves as a testament to her ability. With an eye firmly fixed on next year's T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, the 25-year-old will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in the West Indies' aspirations, as they seek to topple the mighty Australians Down Under.