Saturday, 11 March 2023

Hayley Matthews of Mumbai Indians


 Her father, Mike Matthews, was the fourth down batsman for the Prestigious Pickwick Club in Barbados who could bowl some neat off spins. She and her brother, Wayne, grew up watching her father play at the Kensington oval there and as children they ran all around the ground during the breaks. It was quite natural that she took to Cricket from a very young age. (At 8 she was playing for the Boy’s team of Peoples Cathedral Primary School near her home and captaining it at the age of 11. She was the Captain of prestigious secondary School of Harrison College Under 13 Boy’s team and helping them win a tournament. )

Hayley was a Mumbai Indians fan from the very start of our premier leagues. Her father was a huge fan of Sachin Tendulkar ( like we are of Clive, Richards, Malcolm Marshall, Mike Holding, Joel Garner ..!) and Mumbai Indians. This year in 2023 when the Women’s IPL auction went underway, she was not considered by any team in the first round even though she was the man of the match of 2016 Women’s T20 World Cup Final which West Indies Won.

R. Ashwin our Indian Cricketer was the first one to express his surprise how she with the potential to become the Most Valued Player was overlooked but by then she was already in Mumbai Indians who picked her up for the base price and winning matches.  Hayley Matthews is the girl our girls will be looking up to; in her is the inspiration to be ready and use the opportunity that comes in everyones way sooner or later.

Congratulations and Best Wishes Hayley Matthews.

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