Taylor eagerly eyeing return after fitness troubles

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

Leading West Indies Women's batsman Stafanie Taylor says she is pleased with her recovery following her recent fitness struggles and believes she still has a major contribution to make.

The 31-year-old has been one of the most prolific run-scorers in the global women's game, but has found herself sidelined by a worrisome back injury for the better part of the last 12 months.

Currently in Antigua undergoing assessment, Taylor said she was looking forward to making a full return to competitive action at some point.

"I feel really good, given the procedure I'd done at the World Cup, which would've given me some time to get some work in," the Jamaican said.

"It's not where I would like to be, but I actually like where I'm actually headed, so it's just about putting in some more strength work to get the back strong again and we should be good."

She continued: "I still have more to give. I know that last World Cup wasn't something that most of them (team) would've liked to see, and even for myself.

HEALTH

"So it's about getting myself back when it comes to my health and that's something I have to start with, and if that's not strong I can't go out there and perform. So that's something I am trying to work myself back into."

Taylor was limited to three Twenty20 (T20) Internationals in 2021, featured in none last year and managed only two this year - in the T20 World Cup in South Africa, when she played under a fitness cloud.

The right-hander, who also bowls off-spin, has also not featured in a One-Day International for six months.

While she averages nearly 44 from 148 ODIs and 35 from 113 T20 Internationals, the pinnacle of her career came when she guided West Indies to capture the T20 World Cup seven years ago in India.

And the former captain said adding a 50-over World Cup title would be a further boost for the West Indies.

"I would actually love to win a 50-over World Cup. I know that's probably an area that we're probably not so good[(at], but if we could win a 50-over World Cup, that would be really, really good for us as a team," Taylor explained.

"The 50-over [format] is something we've been working at really hard, so to win a 50-over World Cup would be like 'you've won it (all) now.'

"We don't play Tests, so we can't say anything about Test Championship or anything like that, so it's T20 and 50-over. Given that most of us have won a T20 World Cup, I'm sure we would like to win a 50-over as well," Taylor said.