OTD | Modern-day great, icon of West Indies cricket, Deandra Dottin turns 32

The lady Chris Gayle, Deandra Dottin celebrates her 32nd birthday today, June 21. During a 20-20 World Cup match against South Africa in 2010, Deandra Dottin became the first woman to score a century in T20Is, delivering the most potent rebuttal to those who have attempted to argue that the women’s game lacks strength. Dottin still holds the record for the fastest women’s T20I century with her remarkable 38-ball score that included five fours and nine sixes. She later added, “I decided to go after everything.”

A 22-ball half-century against Australia during the 2009 20-20 World Cup, which was at the time the fastest by any woman in T20Is, set another record less than a year prior. Since making her West Indies debut in June 2008 against Ireland, Dottin’s career has been explosive. Dottin, who also excels at javelin, shot put, and discus, made 95 in the final of the 2011 Women’s World Cup Qualifier against Pakistan to help West Indies win the tournament and secure their spot in the main tournament in India. During the 2013 Women’s World Cup, Dottin hit 60 off 67 balls to help the West Indies defeat Australia and advance to their first-ever appearance in a global tournament final.

Deandra Dottin announced her retirement on August 1, 2022

She being at the top of the list when the West Indies Cricket Board gave their first central contracts to women in 2010 came as no surprise. Apart from Stafanie Taylor, Dottin was one of just two women to be awarded a Grade A contract. But she has publicly criticised the ongoing salary gap between men’s and women’s cricket.

In November 2013, she played a key role in West Indies’ win in the T20 tri-nation event that also included England and New Zealand Women. She scored 46 undefeated runs off 35 balls in the championship match to earn Player of the Series honours. She recently demonstrated her value as a reliable pacer by helping West Indies win their group match against England in the 2014 Women’s 20-20 World Cup by taking 4 for 12 against them. She also played a significant role in West Indies’ triumph in the subsequent tournament. Dottin amassed nine wickets at a strike rate of 13.55, including two for 33 in the final match as West Indies became the first team outside of England, Australia, and New Zealand to win an international competition. 

Deandra Dottin, one of the best players to ever represent the West Indies, startled the cricket world on Monday, August 1, 2022, when she announced her retirement from international Cricket.