WPL 2025 – Chinelle Henry ready to step up for Alyssa Healy at UP Warriorz

Henry, a dynamic West Indies middle-order batter and capable fast bowler, received a late invitation to join the tournament as a substitute for Australia captain Healy, who is recuperating from a stress injury in her foot. Although she hasn’t played yet, she is eager to make her presence felt.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for me,” Henry shared on ESPNcricinfo’s Powerplay podcast. “My only other experience in a franchise league was the CPL, so being part of one of the biggest franchises in women’s cricket, the WPL, is significant for my career moving forward. Next year, I hope to secure a permanent spot for the next edition of the WPL, so this year is definitely a test run, a trial run for me.

“Coming in as a replacement comes with immense responsibility and expectations. The chance to play alongside some of the best in the world from their respective regions is incredible. There will be plenty of learning opportunities this year, and I aim to deliver on the field when called upon because that’s why I’m here. Clearly, they saw potential in me. Healy’s unfortunate injury created this opportunity, and it’s a great honor to step in.”

One only needs to look back to December to understand why UP Warriorz turned to Henry when Healy’s injury meant she could not participate.

“We don’t want to dwell on the past, such as, ‘Oh, we won the 2016 T20 World Cup.’ Teams are progressing, improving, and players are enhancing their skills. We understand the need to evolve.”

Chinelle Henry

“A lot of discussions have centered around my recent form, and I want to maintain that performance because the WPL imposes different pressures compared to other competitions,” Henry noted. “Initially, I was a bit nervous being here in the WPL, but I’ve adjusted to the environment and am focusing on bonding with my teammates and building on the momentum I had during my last visit to India. It’s about keeping that confidence, playing with freedom, and knowing I have the support of the coaches and my team.”

The West Indies will need all of these elements to align again in April when they confront five other teams competing for just two qualifying spots for the 50-over World Cup, which will take place in India later this year.

“When it comes to the West Indies, we’re always striving to compete at the highest levels and in major tournaments,” Henry stated. “We aim to bring the same confidence and enthusiasm that we apply in T20s to the longer formats. Taking responsibility as individuals and as a team is crucial, and we recognize what we must do to avoid going through the qualifying process.”

“We have won the T20 World Cup, and the ODI World Cup is definitely part of our discussions. We refuse to be fixated on past achievements like our 2016 T20 World Cup win. Teams are improving, and so are players. We understand we must better ourselves, and we have to implement strategies to enhance our performance in the longer game.”

The West Indies are also set to play a women’s Test for the first time in a generation in 2026 when they host Australia, having last participated in the format back in 2003-04.

“The World Cup brought us many positives and achievements,” she remarked. “England, being one of the top teams, presented us with a challenging obstacle that we managed to overcome. While we didn’t reach the final, I felt a deep pride for the team’s performances. Competing in England will undoubtedly be a challenge, as they will likely remember that we were the reason for their early exit in the T20 World Cup, which adds an extra layer of motivation for them.

“But we learned what it takes to outplay higher-ranked teams. We know the skills required both individually and as a team, and we can leverage those experiences from the World Cup in our upcoming series against England in May. They will come out fiercely determined, so as a collective, we need to be prepared for the challenge and ready to manage the pressure effectively.”