Kingston, Jamaica – West Indies all-rounder Stafanie Taylor said that she set herself the goal of winning the International Cricket Council’s Women’s Cricketer of the Year Award.
"I set myself the goal of winning the Women’s Cricketer of the Year award and I’m very happy I won it. I was not totally surprised, and it feels really good to be recognised in this way. I worked hard and I played well and the most important thing is that I tried to contribute to the team all the time," she said.
"I want to say a big thank you to my team-mates and the support staff of the West Indies team and the Jamaica team who have been offering encouragement all the time. I also want to thank my family for all the support they continue to give me and I hope I can continue to represent the West Indies with pride."
Taylor added: "I did well in South Africa last year and I did well in India earlier this year, so the runs I scored helped to put me ahead of the other girls. My best performance, in my book, was the first One-Day match in India when we won to take the lead in the series. I made 85 not out to win the match for the team. The way I batted for my team on that occasion was very pleasing and that is the way I want to bat all the time."
The 20-year-old all rounder from Jamaica was outstanding during the voting period with 610 runs at the top of the order at an average of 76.25. She also collected 15 wickets with her off-spin in 10 One-Day Internationals.
Overall it has been a very good year for Taylor. She rose to Number 2 in batting in the ICC Women’s rankings and is in the Top 5 all-rounders as well. Last month she led Jamaica to the title in the West Indies Cricket Board’s Women’s 50 Over League, beating a powerhouse Trinidad and Tobago side in the final.
She is the most successful female cricketer in West Indies history.
Overall she has made 1468 runs at an average of 43.17 and taken 50 wickets at 16.70 each in 40 ODIs. In 24 T20 Internationals, she has made 661 runs at 34.78 per innings and collected 20 wickets at 19.35 each.
Taylor returned to her native Jamaica today after representing the West Indies against Pakistan in St Vincent, Grenada and Guyana.