Late September is not the optimum time to be arriving in England on cricket tour from the West Indies. But despite the chilly conditions, for off spinner Karishma Ramharack, it’s a great opportunity to continue her progress on the International stage for West Indies Women, in their 5 match T20 series against England.
Black Knight Bats have teamed up with Karishma by providing her batting equipment to help raise the profile of the womens game and encourage wider cricket participation.
Karishma got the cricket bug like many youngsters playing on the street outside her house as a kid. This led to playing organised team cricket and ultimately representing her native Trinidad and Tobago in the Regional Womens Super 50 tournament.
The cricket pathway for girls is not as straightforward as it is for boys, and Karishma advises aspiring female cricketers to be persistent. “Stay focused and keep up with the evolution of the game if you are serious about making the most of your talent” she says. “Cricket has evolved quickly in recent years and is an exciting career prospect for young women. Make the most of your opportunities when they arise”.
Derby’s Incora County Ground is the venue for the series, and Karishma acknowledges the transition is tough for the girls. “Being able to adjust to the weather and conditions on tour, and still perform to your potential, is the biggest challenge”
However, there are upsides “Having world class coaches, helping us to adapt to the conditions is a great boost. I have also benefitted from spending two weeks in the Bio Secure training bubble to benefit from the experience of my more experienced team mates”.
Good luck Karishma, from your friends at Black Knight Bats !