CMC – Sixteen-year-old left-arm seamer Qiana Joseph is the youngest member of the West Indies cricket women’s side and one of four uncapped players in the 15-member squad for the June 24-July 23 campaign.
“It means a lot to me and my family because this opportunity comes once in a lifetime and when you get an opportunity like that you must make the best out of it,” said the Saint Lucian player during the training camp at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
“I wasn’t surprised because this year I worked very hard to be a member of the team,” she said.
Joseph managed seven wickets at an average of 15 during the Regional Super50 in the Caribbean recently, impressing selectors with her potential.
She was subsequently picked for the tour of England in order to gain experience but said once the chance presented itself, she would look to make her mark.
“If I get the opportunity to play, I will make the best out of it. If I get the opportunity to bowl, I want to take at least three wickets in that game,” she said.
She added: “I will be working on my fitness and accuracy in my bowling.”
So far, Joseph has experienced the vagaries of the notorious English weather with sunshine, rain and chilly conditions characterising the 17-day camp. She said even though the different weather conditions presented a challenge, she was already acclimatizing.
“The weather is a challenge because it is very moody at times but I’m coping with it,” she said.
West Indies played Pakistan on Tuesday and South Africa Women today, in official ICC warm-up games.
They will open their World Cup campaign against reigning champions Australia Women on Monday.