OTD 1998: When was Hayley Matthews born? A West Indies Greatest Female All-Rounder

Hayley Matthews is arguably the finest female cricketer to play for the West Indies. She is also one of the greatest all-rounders to play the game. The current West Indies captain celebrates her 28th birthday on Thursday, March 19. Here’s a look at her cricketing journey since childhood.

Matthews was born in Barbados and raised in Bridgetown. Cricket runs in her blood as her father batted at No. 4 and bowled off-spin for Pickwick Cricket Club, one of the top clubs on the island.

Hayley Matthews was admitted to People’s Cathedral Primary School. At the age of eight or nine, she requested the head coach of the men’s cricket team whether she could join. The coach granted her request, and in a couple of years, she became the captain of the team. For secondary school, she went to Harrison College, which was founded as an all-boys school in 1733.

She captained the U-13 team, becoming the first female player to do so. Matthews believes that playing with the boys helped her face fast bowling and also improved her fielding.

When she was 18 years old, she played in the Men’s First Division for the Pickwick Club, along with current West Indies white-ball captain Shai Hope.
Matthews made her debut for the Barbadian team when she was just 12 years old. In July 2022, she was named captain of the side for the cricket event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. Matthews has played in top franchise leagues around the world, including the Women’s Premier League in India, 

The Women’s Hundred in England, and the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL).
Matthews made her international debut at the age of 16 in a T20I clash against New Zealand in September 2014. Her ODI debut came a few months later against Australia. She scored three half-centuries against the Aussies to start her ODI career in style.

In January 2020, she was appointed as the captain of the West Indies team for the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup. Later, she led the Caribbean side in the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup 

Matthews is an avid football fan. She is a supporter of Arsenal FC, one of the top teams in the English Premier League. The athletic cricketer has type 1 diabetes, a condition that was diagnosed when she was 12 years old. While the disease is a challenge for Matthews, she has battled with it bravely and her teammates have also supported her in her journey.

Matthews won the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2016 and the Women’s Premier League in 2023 and 2025. So far in her career, Matthews has played 102 ODIs and 115 T20Is. She has amassed over 3000 runs in both formats and taken more than 100 wickets.

Disclaimer: The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.

Want to stay ahead in the world of cricket? Explore our comprehensive Match Predictions, insightful analysis, and the latest updates on all your favorite fixtures and more at BjSports. Don’t miss out and dive into the action now!