Anisa Mohammed had some great performances this
year and the experienced West Indies off-spinner
is looking to get even better in 2022. She was
the leading bowler in the world in One-Day Internationals
with 20 wickets in 12 matches at 18 runs per wicket. That
confirmed her position among the best in the game and
going into the new year she sits at Number 25 in the ICC
ODI Bowling rankings – the second highest for West Indies
– behind Hayley Matthews at 15th.
“It feels good to finish on top finish the most
wickets in ODIs. It has been a while since I’ve
actually picked up so many wickets so it’s a
really good feeling and I’m hoping that I’m
able to continue in 2022. From January to July
we did a lot of skills work in the build-up to the
matches, so I think that helped,” Mohammed
said.
“I think I’ve really had a good year
this year compared to the last five
years. For 2022, hopefully I can have
an even better year than in 2021 and
that would be icing on the cake.”
Mohammed added: “The batters
around the world are improving
with more improvisation and shotselection
… their skills are getting
better, so it is more challenging. As
a bowler you have to keep improving
as well, to stay on top of the game,
so there is always something to work
on.”
She played a crucial role in the series wins against
Pakistan in the Caribbean in the summer and
away in November. Her best bowling figures
were 4-27 off 9.4 overs against the Pakistanis
at the Coolidge Cricket Ground. Overall,
it was the second best of the year for West
Indies – Matthews had 4-26 in Karachi, while
the third best came from Sheneta Grimmond –
who took 4-33 against the visiting South Africa
at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in September.
Overall, Mohammed is the most successful
bowler in West Indies history. Since her debut
against Japan, back in 2003 she has taken 296
wickets at the international level – 171 in
134 ODIs and 125 in 117 T20Is. She is eagerly
looking forward to the ICC Women’s World
Cup, which will be played in New Zealand in
March and April.
“It is great we have qualified for
the World Cup and everyone in
the team is working towards that
tournament. It is a big occasion in
any sport, in anyone’s career to
play in a World Cup and we really
want to put in a great performance
for the West Indies.”