It is said that music soothes the soul in the midst of stress, heightened anxiety and depression. In other words, music can help during troubling times and West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin can attest to that.
Dotting, who initially announced her retirement in 2022, reversed her decision ahead of the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, thanks to the music of the islands she represents.
While away from the international stage, the Barbadian said the sounds of dancehall and reggae were a big part of her daily routine to reflect and unwind, as she focused on her mental health.
In fact, it is that time away that Dottin believes prepared her for a return to the sport she fell in love with since her international debut in 2008.
“I have missed playing international cricket and playing in the maroon. It is always a good feeling but sometimes as players, we might think that there is nothing wrong but deep down inside, something is happening. Many of us deal with things differently, some speak to psychologists, some take breaks, some listen to music and stuff,” Dottin said.
She continued: “That break did a lot in terms of mentally helping me to deal with things better. It was good to have a lot of time on my hands, but it did feel strange not being in the international set-up anymore but I used it to relax, have the muscles and brain relax and not think about cricket.
“You are usually just on that rollercoaster, just thinking about cricket and batting and bowling and stuff like that. I tried to do different stuff that is not cricket focused, and that didn’t have stress. I just played games, listened to music, and just did the natural, normal stuff.”
Dottin, 33, spent her time away from cricket in Canada, finding a peace there that aided her readiness to come back to international action.
However, it was like she never left as she showed no signs of rustiness, scoring two half-centuries during a West Indies camp to secure selection for the global T20 showpiece, which gets underway on Thursday.
It is the tournament where she made her name, scoring the first women’s T20I century in the 2010 edition before helping the Windies claim a stunning win in 2016.
Now, it becomes the scene of her return, and it will see not just a different Dottin but a different West Indies.
Still, she believes they will approach the tournament in the same way they did eight years ago.
“I deal with things, especially mentally, on a different level. I try to create a stronger mentality where I control what I can control and what I can’t control. I forget about it and let God deal with it. It has made me a better person than I was before. There is a difference in the whole team too; the management staff and the players are all on the same level.
“They are executing their plans and have created a different culture and actually think it is in a good mental space, their determination and hunger are really there. It will mean a lot to compete at a World Cup again, I will have some nerves coming back but it will feel really awesome,” Dottin shared.
“In this World Cup, every team wants to win it, and we are the ones that are hungry and determined to do it. So, I think that once we stick to the basics and execute our plans, then there is no stopping us,” she ended.
West Indies will open their account against South Africa on Friday.
