West Indies captain Hayley Matthews has been named the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Player of the Month for July, marking the fifth time in her distinguished career that she has claimed the prestigious individual accolade. The Caribbean all-rounder secured the award ahead of fellow short-listed nominees Nat Sciver-Brunt of England and Harshitha Samarawickrama of Sri Lanka following an outstanding period of international competition.
Reflecting on the recognition, Ms Matthews expressed her gratitude while reinforcing her ambition to maintain peak performance levels for the national side. She noted that receiving the honor again holds profound personal significance and serves as motivation to elevate her game, drive West Indies towards further team success, and chase future honors. The skipper also highlighted the expanding global audience for women’s cricket, expressing pride in contributing to its development while thanking the ICC for its continued support and promotion of the sport.
Ms Matthews earned the award following a dominant individual display during the West Indies tour of Ireland in July. Spearheading a 3-0 One Day International (ODI) series sweep, she accumulated 265 runs across three matches at an average of 132.50 and a strike rate of 117.25. Alongside her batting brilliance, she proved equally effective with the ball, collecting seven wickets at an average of 17.57.
Her tour started with an influential performance in the opening fixture. After taking three wickets for 52 runs in the first innings, she produced an unbeaten 159 during the run chase, establishing a record-breaking partnership with teammate Realeanna Grimmond to anchor a comfortable victory.
She carried that momentum into the second ODI by recording a second consecutive century. Scoring 100 runs before taking two wickets for 34 runs with her off-spin, she once again proved instrumental in securing a team win. Although dismissed for just six runs in the final match of the series, she remained effective with the ball, taking two wickets for 37 runs to wrap up a dominant series performance.
The award underscores Ms Matthews’ position among elite international all-rounders. With major ICC tournaments and bilateral series approaching, her consistent form remains vital as the West Indies look to build momentum on the international stage.
