Barbados Royals rocked as Hayley Matthews ruled out of WCPL 2025

Royals suffer a major setback

The Barbados Royals have been dealt a huge blow ahead of their WCPL 2025 title defence. Star allrounder Hayley Matthews has been ruled out of the entire tournament due to a shoulder injury that requires surgery.

Matthews, the heartbeat of the Royals, is the competition’s all-time leading run-scorer (424 runs) and top wicket-taker (23 wickets). She has been instrumental in their back-to-back title wins in 2023 and 2024, where she was Player of the Match in the 2023 final and Player of the Series last season.

Her absence leaves a massive void in both leadership and performance, forcing the Royals to regroup quickly.

Chinelle Henry to lead

In Matthews’ absence, experienced allrounder Chinelle Henry has been appointed captain. Henry has been a consistent performer for both West Indies Women and the Royals, and her aggressive batting and reliable seam bowling give her the tools to lead from the front.

Royals made the announcement on social media, but they are yet to name an official replacement in the squad. With Matthews’ influence missing, Henry’s leadership and tactical nous will be critical in a fiercely competitive season.

Matthews’ road to recovery

The injury stems from a shoulder issue sustained during the England tour earlier this year. Matthews played through the pain during the home series against South Africa and The Hundred but eventually opted for surgery.

She had been pre-drafted by the Melbourne Renegades for WBBL, but withdrew before the draft to prioritize recovery. The original plan was to undergo surgery post-WCPL 2025, but medical advice has now ruled her out of the tournament altogether.

Royals’ squad depth tested

The Royals still boast a strong lineup featuring overseas stars like Chamari Athapaththu, Georgia Redmayne, and Indian youngster Shreyanka Patil. Emerging Caribbean talents such as NaiJanni Cumberbatch, Trishan Holder, and Steffie Soogrim also return after fine-tuning their skills at the Chennai Super Kings Academy last month.

With Matthews sidelined, the Royals will need collective performances from their experienced core — Afy Fletcher, Shamilia Connell, Kycia Knight, and Qiana Joseph — to compensate for the missing star power.