West Indies women’s head coach Shane Deitz has welcomed the variety shown by young Trinidad and Tobago spinner Samara Ramnath, as he believes she could be a force for the senior team in the near future.
Ramnath, who captained the West Indies Under-19 women’s team at the World Cup a few months ago, was one of the standout performers in the CG United Women’s Super50 tournament in St. Kitts.
The 17-year-old’s 13-wicket haul—the most in the tournament—caught Deitz’s attention, particularly her ability to mix leg breaks to right-handers and off breaks to left-handers, an approach he believes will make her a major asset in white-ball cricket.
“I love it that she’s bowling a lot more leg breaks to the right-handers, and I think that’s something moving forward that could be a real weapon for her,” Deitz said during a virtual media briefing.
“With Afy Fletcher not getting any younger, there’s a spot for a wrist spinner in our team, so she’s really impressive. Her batting has potential as well, but there are a few things she needs to work on and improve,” he added.
Ramnath played a crucial role in helping the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force Divas secure the title for the first time since 2017, as they overcame a slow start in the tournament to defeat Barbados in the final.
Deitz praised the way the team adjusted after an opening-game loss, highlighting their strategic approach and execution.
“It was really great to see Trinidad fight back from a loss in their first game to take out the title. They really had some good plans and executed them well,” he noted.
A major part of that execution came from captain Karishma Ramharack, who led from the front with 12 wickets—just one behind Ramnath. Deitz lauded Ramharack’s captaincy, as he pointed out how her leadership has helped solidify her role in the senior West Indies team.
“She was just probably fighting for a spot for a long time in the senior team, and now she’s well-established and ranked in the top 20 bowlers in the world. She’s really been putting her mark on the senior team and filtered that through to the players,” Deitz said.
While bowling was the strong suit for the Divas, Deitz also saw potential in young batters Shunelle Sawh, 20, and Djenaba Joseph, 21, who grew in confidence as the tournament progressed.
“I thought toward the end of the tournament, Sawh and Joseph started to look more positive and took the attack to the opposition. They are two talented batters who need to take that next step and really push for more international opportunities,” Deitz shared.
Another batter who caught Deitz’s attention was Guyana’s Realeann Grimmond, 20, who has been working closely with the coaching staff to refine her game.
“She really impressed. She can score fast when needed, but she also proved that she can bat for long periods, which is just as important. Plus, she’s a really good fielder,” Deitz stated.
While the tournament showcased emerging young talents, Deitz acknowledged there was still work to be done, particularly on the batting front.
“With the ball, we saw some really good young players stepping up, but batting remains a key area for improvement,” he ended. Sportsmax
