The World Boss: Deandra Dottin

West Indies players are known for their brutal power hitting abilities. They are genetically strong and that has always helped them in smashing the ball hard, and their athletic body also makes them look tough on the ground. 

Over the years, that part of the world has produced some really quality cricketers like Chris Gayle, Brian Lara, Sir Viv Richards etc. These renowned players are the ones who have truly uplifted the sport in Caribbean countries. But today, in this article by ZAP cricket, we will discuss a lesser known, yet equally impactful cricketer- the self proclaimed World Boss-

Early life and domestic cricket 

Born on 21 June, 1991(present age 33), Dottin started playing cricket when she was 14. Before that, she actively took part in athletic events and had a successful stint in CARIFTA Games. She was a sprinter initially, but later turned into professional javelin, shot put and discus thrower. Due to lack of support from governing bodies, she parted ways and chose cricket over track and field. That is when her cricketing journey began. Her unique talent was spotted by a former player, Pamela Lavine. With constant practice and hard work young Dottiin climbed ranks early. She played domestic cricket for Barbados. Her cousin, Ottis Gibson, also played for the national team in the 1990s.

International career of Deandra Dottin

Deandra played two formats for her country. She made her ODI debut on 24 June, 2008 and T20I debut on 27 June, 2008, both against the same oppositions- Ireland. 

She made a massive impact through her game. She was the first woman cricketer to hit 100 sixes in WT20Is. In the 2010 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup she scored a century, 112 not out against South Africa at Warner Park, St, Kitts. She took only 38 balls to achieve that feat. After that innings, she became the first player to score a century in T20 in women’s cricket and also became the fastest centurion. She also holds the record for fastest half century off just 22 balls. 

In July 2022, she announced her retirement from international cricket. However, she made a return to international cricket as she was picked by the West Indies team in the 2024 T20 World Cup. The team lost in the Semi finals as they were defeated by New Zealand. Dottin took four wickets and scored 33 runs in that match, but her efforts went in vain and New Zealander’s displayed a better show that day.

She played her Last ODI on 30 March, 2022 vs Australia and Last T20I on 18 October, 2024 vs New Zealand.  

International stats of Deandra Dottin

Awards and recognitions 

Dottin’s contribution at the highest level was duly recognised by the West Indies Cricket Board on various occasions. In 2018, she was named T20 International Cricketer of the Year by them. That year, she was also named as ‘Standout Player of the Tournament’ by ICC in the T20 World Cup.  Later in 2019, she was named as both the Women’s ODI and Women’s T20 Player of the Year by the national board. 

Deandra Dottin in franchise cricket 

Apart from her stellar show at the international level, Dottin was a regular member in franchise leagues as well. In Women’s Big Bash League she played for Perth Scorchers (2015-16), Brisbane Heat (2016-18) and Adelaide Strikers (2022-23). Now, in the 2024 edition, she will be playing for Melbourne Renegades as well. As of now, she has featured in 45 games, with 786 runs and 31 wickets by her name. 

In the Caribbean Premier League, she plays for Trinidad and Tobago Riders. She is leading the team for the third year in a row. 

In India, she was part of the Women's T20 Challenge. She played for Trailblazers in 2020 and Supernovas in 2022. Hopefully, she will soon feature in WPL.