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Underdone West Indies ready for T20 Cup

3 minute read

Wet weather has affected West Indies' preparations for the Twenty20 World Cup but the side responsible for Australia's 2016 final loss are making no excuses.

STAFANIE TAYLOR of the Thunder looks on during the Women's Big Bash League match between the Sydney Thunder and the Adelaide Strikers at Blundstone Arena in Hobart, Australia.
STAFANIE TAYLOR of the Thunder looks on during the Women's Big Bash League match between the Sydney Thunder and the Adelaide Strikers at Blundstone Arena in Hobart, Australia. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

West Indies skipper Stafanie Taylor is one of few tourists with a bad word to say about their trip to picturesque holiday spot Noosa.

Taylor's team, who upset Australia in the final of the 2016 Twenty20 World Cup, start their 2020 Cup campaign against Thailand in Perth on Saturday.

West Indies were based on Queensland's Sunshine Coast for a fortnight upon arrival, seeking to adjust to local conditions with centre-wicket sessions and some tune-ups against Pakistan.

However, persistent rain forced the squad to stay inside for much of their stint.

"Really awful. We've been outside four times," Taylor said of her team's experience in Queensland.

"It's not ideal going into your first game.

"The coach (Gus Logie) kept preaching the message that 'these challenges do happen and there's nothing much we can do'.

"We were still having dinner and lunch with teammates, still having bonding time. So as much as we couldn't go outside, we didn't let that dampen our spirits."

Taylor, crowned player of the 2016 T20 World Cup, and Hayley Matthews - named player of the 2016 T20 World Cup final - have both proven they can perform at big events.

Taylor suggested the experience of having won that World Cup was handy but there was no point living on past glories.

The return of allrounder Deandra Dottin, who admitted she contemplated retirement after undergoing shoulder surgery last June, is a big boost for the 2016 champions.

"I felt so restless. I'm a very active person and I couldn't run, it was just therapy back home," Dottin said.

"It was around that time when I started to get depressed.

"I didn't even think I was going to be able to use my shoulder how I used to use it. I was so close to giving up and calling it a day."

Taylor noted it was important she, Dottin and Matthews share their wisdom gained from WBBL stints with teammates.

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