Indomatie Goordial-John, although somewhat diminutive in stature, stands tall among women cricketers in the USA, and is making a difference in the growth of the sport in the country.
Indomatie Goordial-John during her spectacular 96 against the New Jersey Phoenix. Photo by Shiek Mohamed
Goordial-John has represented the West Indies and the USA, the latter as a player and coach, helping to propel the USA national women to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in Bangladesh, this November.
Currently a member of the Tri-State Lynx Women’s Cricket team, Goordial-John has been rocking in the current women’s tournament in the New York metropolitan area, scoring almost 200 runs in two matches, including a spectacular 96 against the New Jersey Phoenix, and grabbing a bucket of wickets with her off-spinners.
Newyorkcricket.com in an exclusive interview with all-rounder Indomatie Goordial-John, asked her…
Why the interest in women’s cricket?
I am interested in women’s cricket as a player and also as a coach.
How long have you been playing the sport?
I have been playing cricket for 15 years.
What’s your favorite role in the sport? Batswoman or bowler?
I am an all-rounder but loves batting most, however, I also enjoy fielding.
Are you the only one in your family who plays cricket?
Yes, I am the only one in my family who plays cricket.
Do you feel that women’s cricket will really take hold in the USA, and if so, why?
I think women’s cricket will take hold in the USA because of how interested the women players are, and how much they want to play the game. Most of us thought we would never get an opportunity to play the game we love so much after we left our home countries. To be given another chance to play is great for most of us.
What is the single most important thing needed at this time to get young girls as excited about the sport as young boys?
The most important thing to get more girls excited about the sport is a commitment from the officials. There should be more chances for young girls to play the game.
Do you think the sport should be introduced as a co-Ed sport in American schools, or be kept strictly along gender lines, boys playing separately from girls?
Yes, cricket should be introduced as a co-ed sport in schools, but not all sports should, it should be selected sports.
Where do you see women’s cricket in the next ten years in the USA?
In the next ten years I see women’s cricket in the USA growing significantly, with the USA team as the champions of the Americas and a chance to be in the World cup.
What role, if not as an active cricketer, do you see yourself playing in the sport in the next 5-10 years?
If in the next 5-10 years I am not still a player, then I would like to be involved in the game as a coach.
What advice would you give a young girl interested in learning the sport?
I will advise any young girl who wants to learn the game to start with a coach who can teach her the basic techniques first of all, and to learn to enjoy the game and just don’t play cricket for the sake of simply playing it, play it cause you love it and that way you will learn it a lot faster and your interest will be much higher.
What single piece of advice would you give USA cricket administrators regarding the development of women’s cricket in the USA?
I will advice USA cricket administrators to get serious about women’s cricket cause the women players can put the USA on the cricket map a lot faster than the men can. They need to support the women a lot more, and have more organized matches for the women’s team, and if possible put players on contract. This will ensure that players can concentrate on their game more and have more time to be better at what they do.
