Jamaica’s women’s cricket team head coach Shane Brooks says his team will enter the CG United Women’s Super50 with high expectations and a clear objective to retain the title and showcase the brand of cricket that brought them success.

The Jamaicans, led by newly appointed captain Rashada Williams, will open their campaign in St Kitts and Nevis on Monday against a Karishma Ramharack-led Trinidad and Tobago outfit, eager to maintain their dominance in regional women’s cricket.

Williams steps into the leadership role after veteran all-rounder Stafanie Taylor opted to step down after years at the helm. However, Taylor remains an integral part of the squad and will offer guidance to the young leader.

“Stafanie stepped down because she has served Jamaica for a long time, and she believes that now is the time for the next generation of players to take up leadership roles,” Brooks told SportsMax.Tv.

“She will still be playing for a little while and will give support to Rashada, who has understudied her for the last three years, so it is only fitting that she be promoted. Rashada is competent; she has led before in Stafanie’s absence, so we expect her to go out and do what she knows because she is experienced enough to lead, and she has the full support of everyone,” he added.

New captain Rashada Williams.

Despite being holders of the Super50 and T20 titles, Brooks dismissed the idea that there was added pressure on the team; instead, he embraces the winning culture that has driven their success.

“I honestly believe there is no pressure on us. We have won three titles in the last three years, so we are doing fairly well. We know that all the teams will be coming to dethrone us, but whenever we play, it’s not just to participate but to win titles, and this year is no different,” Brooks declared.

“We are looking to come back home as champions and defend our title with all that we have. The objective is to just play one brand of cricket, and that is a positive style of play—score heavily, at least 240-plus in every game, and also to be disciplined in our bowling and clinical in the field,” he noted.

While the squad will be missing key players like Natasha McLean and Chinelle Henry, Brooks pointed out that the team’s depth is sufficient enough to fill those gaps, as they boast a decent mix of youth and experience.

“We have a fairly well balanced team. Yes, we are missing the likes of Natasha McLean and Chinelle Henry, but in any good programme, one needs to prepare to transition. So we have young players coming in who we expect to hit the ground quickly, emulate the stalwarts of the female game, and make a name for themselves,” Brooks, who was an assistant to the West Indies Under-19 Women’s World Cup team, stated.

With the 50-over World Cup qualifiers on the horizon, several players will be using the Super50 tournament as a platform to earn or reclaim a West Indies call-up.

“There are a few players who believe they should be playing for the West Indies, and the only platform they have to show this is by doing well in the regional tournament,” Brooks said.

“So, with this tournament, I am sure that the likes of Rashada Williams and Chedean Nation will be looking to get back in the team by scoring a lot of runs. We know the legend of Stafanie and the standards that she has set for the last 15 years, so she is looking to get back to full fitness and also get back into the West Indies team,” he shared.

However, given the rapid growth of women’s cricket, with increasing opportunities for players to secure franchise contracts globally, Brooks said the young players are not to be counted out.

In fact, he highlighted that they opted to include Under-19 and Under-21 representatives—Chrishana McKenzie, 19, Abigail Bryce, 18, Kade Wilmott, 20, and Lena Scott, 21—among the six changes made to the squad from last year. This move, he said, is a part of a long-term development plan to ensure a steady pipeline of young talent.

“We have made six changes to the squad from last year, and it’s just to ensure that the young players come in. We are trying to create an environment where young ladies would want to come and play cricket. Once that happens, the game will continue to grow, and Jamaica—and by extension, the West Indies—will continue to thrive,” Brooks explained.

“The women’s game is growing, and with growth comes expectations. These ladies expect to do well in order to get contracts and emulate Chinelle Henry, who is playing in the Women’s Premier League in India. So, a lot is expected of them individually and collectively based on the standards that we set,” he ended.

Jamaica squad: Rashada Williams (captain), Abigail Bryce, Nicole Campbell, Corrine Howell, Chrishana McKenzie, Jodian Morgan, Chedean Nation, Roshana Outar, Lena Scott, Stafanie Taylor, Neisha-Ann Waisome, Vanessa Watts, Celina Whyte, Kade Wilmott