"It is definitely an exhilarating feeling": Hayley Matthews becomes West Indies captain

Matthews will take on the role on an almost immediate basis from Stafanie Taylor, and will lead the side in their next international series - which is as yet to be confirmed

Hayley Matthews is to succeed Stafanie Taylor as the next captain of West Indies.

Matthews will take on the role on an almost immediate basis, and will lead the side in their next international series - which is as yet to be confirmed.

Taylor has held the captaincy since 2015 but the Cricket West Indies selection panel, headed by lead selector Anne-Brown John, recently conducted a review of the team's peformance and concluded that a change was timely.

Matthews has previously been vice-captain of the national side and skippers Barbados.

^{Hayley Matthews succeeds Stafanie Taylor, right, as West Indies captain [Getty Images]}

"I am both humbled and honored," she said. "It is definitely an exhilarating feeling and I welcome the experience to lead and learn with open arms.

"This team has been very close to my heart from the beginning of my professional career eight years ago and the influence of Stafanie's leadership throughout those eight years has played a major role in the player I am today. I eagerly anticipate working with the players to continue building on the progress in which the team has made thus far.

"I would like to thank Stafanie for her astounding leadership of the team over the years. We've accomplished some of our biggest milestones with her at the forefront and I look forward to continuing playing alongside her."

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