A shoulder injury has ruled out captain Hayley Matthews for the entire season for the Barbados Royals title defense in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League.

Matthews had picked up a shoulder injury on the England tour and opted for surgery during the Australian Women’s Big Bash League . 

She was the Melbourne Renegades’ pre-draft pick but pulled out before the WBBL draft. 

Matthews is the WCPL’s WCPL’s leading run-getter with 424 runs at a strike rate of 113.06 and top wicket-taker – 23 with an economy rate of 5.79, and a key player in Royals’ title-winning campaigns of 2023 and 2024. 

She was player of the match in the 2023 final against Guyana Amazon Warriors, scoring a 59-ball 82 and taking two wickets in the process, and was player of the series in the 2024 season.

All rounder Chinelle Henry will lead royals in Matthews’ absence.