CWI hosts US U-19 team in Trinidad for T20I series

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has listed the names of the 16-player squad selected to participate in a five-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series against the United States Cricket Under-19 Women’s National Team. A media release from the organization said the series is scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 3, 2025, at the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Ground located in St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidadian off-spinner Samara Ramnath will  captain the team, with 16-year-old Barbadian player Theanny Herbert-Mayers serving as vice-captain.

This squad was chosen following the recent Rising Stars Under-19 35-over Championships held in Trinidad. Barbados, under Herbert-Mayers’ leadership, claimed the title at this tournament, which CWI said showcased a roster filled with promising young cricketers eager to demonstrate their abilities.

Among the familiar faces in the squad are Ramnath, who previously captained the West Indies at the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup held earlier this year in Malaysia, and other regional representatives such as Jamaican Abigail Bryce, off-spin all-rounder NaiJanni Cumberbatch—who was the tournament’s leading wicket-taker—along with 16-year-old Amrita Ramtahal and 17-year-old Brianna Harricharan.

Both the West Indies and USA teams participated in this year’s ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup, reaching the Super 6 phase. This upcoming series marks the third bilateral encounter between the two sides, following matches in 2022 at Central Broward Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida, and in 2024 at the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Ground in Trinidad.

The team is led by Head Coach Merissa Aguilleira, a former West Indies Women’s captain who recently guided Trinidad and Tobago to victory in the CG United Women’s Super 50 tournament in March. Assisting her are former West Indies players Tremayne Smartt and Ryan Hinds, while Yasmine St. Ange, a former Windward Islands fast bowler and captain, serves as Team Manager.

CWI CEO Chris Dehring expressed enthusiasm about the series, stating, “We are proud to welcome the USA Under-19 Women’s team and look forward to an exciting series that we hope will inspire even more young girls across the region to take up the sport.”

He also emphasized the strategic importance of the series, noting that it aligns with CWI’s commitment to expanding opportunities for young female cricketers and fostering regional partnerships to promote the game’s growth across the Americas.

Miles Bascombe, CWI’s Director of Cricket, highlighted the development aspect of the series, noting, “This series marks the start of an eighteen-month campaign leading up to the 2027 Women’s Under-19 World Cup. Most of the players selected will be eligible for that tournament, and this series will be instrumental in assessing their progress.”

He added that future development plans will focus on enhancing both the skills and overall growth of the players, aiming to prepare them for the global stage in 2027.

All five matches will be played at the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Ground, beginning at 10 a.m. each day. Fans can watch the games via live streaming on the Cricket West Indies YouTube channel.

West Indies Squad:
– Samara Ramnath (Captain)
– Theanny Herbert-Mayers (Vice-Captain)
– Adanya Baugh
– Eboni Brathwaite
– Abigail Bryce
– NaiJanni Cumberbatch
– Kaela George
– Brianna Harricharan
– Zakiyah Harrilal
– Sabriel Headley
– Danellie Manns
– Brianna Plummer
– Amrita Ramtahal
– Kristen Sutherland
– Jaeda Tyrell
– Aaliyah Weekes

Team Management:
– Merissa Aguilleira – Head Coach
– Yasmine St. Ange – Team Manager
– Tremayne Smartt – Assistant Coach
– Ryan Hinds – Assistant Coach
– Ashley Stephens – Physiotherapist
– Yvonne Arthur – Strength & Conditioning Coach

Match Schedule:
– 1st T20: July 26, 2025
– 2nd T20: July 27, 2025
– 3rd T20: July 30, 2025
– 4th T20: August 1, 2025
– 5th T20: August 3, 2025