Shamilia Connell

This menacing opening bowler is incredibly thankful that a national coach scouted her on a Barbados beach and started off her international cricketing career after being an avid track and field athlete

Birthday: July 14, 1992

Role: Right-arm fast medium

This menacing opening bowler is incredibly thankful that a national coach scouted her on a Barbados beach and started off her international cricketing career after being an avid track and field athlete. 

She has played for her national side, Barbados, since 2010, following on from her talent emerging through primary school where she would consistently be considerably quicker than the boys on her team. 

A member of the World Cup-winning squad in 2016, she is a real force within the team - a threatening seamer with consistent speeds just short of 80mph. 

She has even garnered some comparisons to Joel Garner: tall, very quick and never afraid to throw down a bouncer.

This makes her one of the most dangerous bowlers in women’s T20 cricket. 

With over 40 international wickets, she continues to impress and maintain her place in the squad (Connell was also selected for 2018 T20 World Cup). 

She is regarded as the life and soul of the dressing room, always being the first to turn up the speaker after the game, and fondly remembers the celebrations after victory at the 2016 T20 World Cup. 

Cricket is her one true love now, and is showing clear intent to be involved with West Indies cricket both on and off the field for a very long time.