Cricket has produced a plethora of phenoms, including high achievers who have created iconic moments. Rashada Williams, 26, promises to be one of women’s cricket brightest stars.

Williams, who is a Jamaican cricketer who plays for the women’s national cricket team in the Women’s Super50 Cup and the Twenty20 Blaze tournaments, is well-known for her persistent passion for teh sport and has won many hearts with her exceptional cricketing ability. From breaking limits on the field to setting new standards of grace, Williams’ journey from a young schoolgirl to a professional cricketer has impressed.

A former student of Eltham High School, Williams appears to be following in the footsteps of West Indies and Jamaica great Stafanie Taylor, who also attended the school.

“High school was pretty much the foundation of the starting of my career,” Williams told the Jamaica Observer shortly before she was awarded with the top prize for female cricketers for the 2023 season at the recent RJRGLEANER Sports Foundation Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

“Later on in my career, I got banned because they [ISSA] were trying to protect me from the boys. As the boys grew older, they got stronger and so ISSA kept me away from the dangers. From there I went straight into the Jamaican team.

“I have been training, working hard, and now I am a representative of the West Indies women team. I’ve been through a lot of coaches and they have been influential as well on my way forward. You also have Stefanie Taylor, she’s been pretty influential in my life as well,” the wicket-keeper/batter further said.

Williams was named to the West Indies’ squad for their January 2019 tour of Pakistan, and in April 2021, she was invited to Cricket West Indies’ high-performance training camp in Antigua. In June 2021, Williams was called to the West Indies A Team for a series against Pakistan. On July 12, 2021, Cricket West Indies included her in their Women’s One Day International (WODI) squad for the remaining three matches against Pakistan. She made her WODI debut for the West Indies against Pakistan on July 15, 2021.

In October 2021, she was nominated to the West Indies squad for the 2021 Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe and in February 2022, she was nominated to the West Indies squad for the 2022 Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.

Williams, who has 28 One-Day International matches for the West Indies, has scored 434 runs from 26 innings, including a high of 78 not out at an average of 18.1. Williams has 23 T20 caps, scoring 193 runs in 19 innings, including a top score of 38 at a strike rate of 81.77 and an average of 10.72.

Williams has described her career as progressive, with struggles and disappointments being a natural part of sports. She said that she is determined to stamp her mark on cricket’s world stage.

“Last year, in November, I captained the A-team. We went to Pakistan. Prior to that, we were in Australia. It’s [my career] been progressive. I must say that I am grateful for that. I’ve come from a far away and I’m glad for where I’m at now.

“I have further to go in my career. It’s sports and sometimes you’re up and sometimes you’re down. You’re always going to struggle but it’s how you move forward from that struggle. Mentally, you have to be strong,” Williams told the
Observer.

You have to be ready for anything that is presented to you on the day. I wouldn’t say fear but sometimes a little nerve may kick in here and there but I wouldn’t say fear. I honestly think that cricket chose me or sports as a whole chose me. So, I’m just using my talent to the best of my ability,” she added.

Williams said that the schedule for this year is pretty packed, especially with the T20 World Cup coming up. She also said that she has set her sights on cementing a place in West Indies’ best XI at every opportunity.

The 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup – the tournament’s ninth edition, is scheduled to be hosted in Bangladesh between September and October 2024. Australia are the defending champions having defeated South Africa in final of the previous edition

“Yes, I’m working towards the World Cup. It’s a tremendous feeling. Words can’t really express how I feel every time I go out there and represent wearing that uniform. No regrets. I’m just happy that my hard work has finally paid off and I’m representing at the highest level.