By Zainab Shafiq 
The West Indies women’s cricket team is set to begin a crucial tour of England later this month, but they’ll be doing so without one of their top performers. Chinelle Henry, who starred at the recent ICC World Cup Qualifier, has been ruled out due to a leg injury, dealing a blow to a side eager to regroup and refocus. With the team looking to bounce back after missing out on World Cup qualification by the slimmest of margins, West Indies women’s cricket team fans will be hoping this tour marks the beginning of a stronger chapter.
Henry’s absence is particularly notable given her red-hot form. She smashed 171 runs in five games at a strike rate of 150 during the qualifiers and topped the scoring charts in the recently concluded T20 Blaze competition. Her injury, sustained during Jamaica’s loss in the final via a Super Over, leaves a significant void in the squad. Rashada Williams also misses out after limited involvement in Pakistan, opening the door for new faces to step up.
In come exciting young talents Jahzara Claxton and Realeanna Grimmond, the only changes from the squad that nearly clinched World Cup qualification. Both could debut on English soil, signaling a commitment to developing future stars. Grimmond, just 20, impressed in the T20 Blaze with 46 off 53 in Guyana’s chase during the final and finished among the tournament’s top scorers. Claxton, 19, comes with international exposure from the Women’s Under-19 World Cup earlier this year.
Deandra Dottin Remains Out of Contention for West Indies Women’s Cricket Team’s Tour of England
Meanwhile, experienced campaigner Deandra Dottin also remains sidelined due to a knee injury, continuing her time away from international duty.
West Indies head coach Shane Dietz sees this tour as more than a series of matches—it’s a statement. “We want to reestablish ourselves as a world-class team,” Dietz declared. With T20Is up first, a format where West Indies has shown promise recently, the team aims to play fearless, attacking cricket—the kind fans associate with Caribbean flair.
CWI Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, emphasized the importance of the tour in reigniting the team’s global standing. “This is a key moment to show our character and cricketing identity,” he said. With the T20 Blaze offering the perfect warm-up platform, players are match-ready and eager to shine.
The tour kicks off on May 19 with a warm-up game against an England Development XI, followed by three T20Is and three ODIs, starting May 21 at Canterbury.
West Indies Women’s limited-overs squad: Hayley Matthews (capt), Shemaine Campbelle (vice-capt), Aaliyah Alleyne, Jahzara Claxton, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Realeanna Grimmond, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor
Also, see:
England’s White-Ball Squads for West Indies Series Revealed