Hopes on the horizon

TOUGH ROAD AHEAD
But the real test of how much Indian women’s cricket has gained will come in the months ahead, when they travel to England and Australia in the build-up to next year’s World Cup, to be played Down Under.
“We’re playing only ODIs but it’ll be very helpful,” says Shubhangi . The players, too, are looking forward to the tours as a definitive reality check. “We’ll get to play in conditions which will be available for the World Cup. The pitches there are fast and bouncy and it’s important for us to get accustomed to that, and to find out how well we can cope,” says captain Mithali Raj. “Now that most of the things on our wish-list have finally been taken care of, we’re waiting for an opportunity to play without any off-field pressure.”
The team how have an NCA Level-III coach, Atul Gaekwad, who is taking care of the team’s fielding and fitness. “Before he arrived, we had no idea about a lot of basic drills and other advanced practice routines. He’s been with us on a tour-by-tour basis. If that can become regular, it’ll be even more helpful,” says Mithali.
Cricket New Zealand (CNZ) has already announced its list of probables for the World Cup that is still nine months away. Experts say it’s this kind of preparation they should work towards emulating. As fast bowler Jhulan Goswami puts it: “Things are getting better but only a World Cup win will now take India to the next level. It is up to our team to make that dream come true and leave behind a legacy, and a brighter future for tomorrow’s players.”

‘Winning the World Cupis our next target’

There was a time when the joke in Indian cricket was that Jhulan Goswami was the fastest bowler India’s ever had. Her achievements remain restricted to women’s cricket, but there’s no denying that the Bengal speedster has gone where no other woman cricketer from the country ever ventured.
The 100-wicket bowler talks about her experiences and the journey so far.
Excerpts…

What do 100 wickets mean to you?
They mean a lot. Hundred wickets speak about the efforts I’ve put in. The fact that I’ve managed to do well is a good example of putting forth the fact that I have had excellent team support. These 100 wickets actually form part of a great team effort.

It has been as much about your consistency with the pace that you can generate as it has been about wickets. What is your basic strength?
The most benefiting aspect of my bowling is my action. I have been consistent with my bowling style and it has played a great part. Also, simply because I can bowl faster too, it’s helped me.

The name Jhulan Goswami seems to be getting popular by the day. Are you aware of that?
Of course. I first began noticing it when I won the ICC award last year (for Women’s Player of the Year). I believe that with the BCCI taking things under their control, a lot of things have fallen in place for women’s cricket. Today people take better notice than what they used to. This is a fascinating time for women’s cricket in India and the game is fast changing (for women), which is a nice thing.

The 1983 World Cup changed the way men’s cricket was looked at in India. Do you think even women’s cricket needs a World Cup victory now to get to the next level?
Definitely, a World Cup victory will take women’s cricket to the next level. We have the right mix of players and support staff that can help us achieve that. If we can win the World Cup next year, it will give a lot more confidence to those who’re willing to help us, and to us as players to think more positively. Even youngsters who’re willing to play cricket will embrace the game easily.

What is your take on the coach and the support staff that the national team currently has?
We have a good support staff and a new coach in Shanta Rangaswamy. Sudha Shah, the earlier coach, was also good and we were consistent in our performances. The support staff has been good in terms of the assistance we get before or during tours. As a fielding coach, Atul Gaekwad has been of huge help. He has helped us understand a few technical aspects and that has made our practice sessions much better.

These days, there is a lot of demand for coaches with experience at the highest level, someone like John Harmer, who coached England. Do you believe in having a foreign coach or somebody who’s done a bit of Level-3 training?
The point is, whoever comes as the coach, there should be a level of confidence between the coach and the players. This was precisely what we enjoyed during Sudha’s time and even now, when Shanta’s in charge as coach. No doubt, these Level 1 or Level 3 coaches can be good but so are the coaches under whom we’ve played. They’re highly experienced and, most importantly, there is mutual trust.

In the bowling department, does Neetu David’s return indicate that the team has no choice but to go back to experienced hands?
Neetu David is definitely an asset to the team. With her experience, she can inspire the side, has led in the past and is a proven match-winner. We do need new faces in the team and that is something that the coach, selectors and captain have been concentrating on for some time but as a team mate, I think Neetu brings a lot to this team.

Compete against men? Why not, says Mithali

After making her one-day international debut in 1999, leading India to the World Cup final in 2005 and reaching the 3000-run mark this year, Mithali Raj, the captain of the Indian women’s team, is riding high. With the 2009 World Cup just nine months away, she speaks about the challenges she and her team have faced until now and what lies ahead. Excerpts…

How does it feel to have reached the 3000-run mark in one-day cricket, especially since you are among the all-time top five run-getters?
It doesn’t get any better. After having played international cricket for so many years, it is indeed a very satisfying feeling. It’s only appropriate that I put it as an effort that has helped contribute to the team’s cause. The landmark came with an exceptional victory in the Asia Cup, and that makes it all even sweeter.

Jhulan Goswami too has reached the 100-wicket mark, which is another great achievement. How exciting is it to have a bowler like Jhulan in the side?
I’ll put it this way: we’re just happy that Jhulan is on our side and is not somebody who we have to face as an opposition bowler. She’s been the team’s pillar in the bowling department and has been consistent. The pace that she can whip up is amazing, and keeping in mind the next World Cup (in Australia), she’s going to be our best bet with the ball.

Last World Cup, we had reached the final and lost. This year, in what way have we gotten better to ensure that we carry on successfully till the very end?
Even in the last World Cup, I thought reaching the World Cup final was a great achievement. This time too, we’re focused. Actually, this time, we have lesser issues to think about off the field and have been able to concentrate totally on the game. Thanks to the help provided by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), our travel and stay and other important things that matter are being taken care of quite well. The team too has matured from what it was in 2005 — the seniors are in a position to accept more responsibility and there are a lot of new, talented faces too.

The New Zealand team have already announced a list of probables for the 2009 World Cup. Is it too early or is it the right time? If it is the right time then are we thinking on the same lines?
It is not too early. Actually it’s best to have in place a probable list with nine months to go into the tournament. By doing so, they actually have a good picture of the talent that is available with them and can build on it. The Asia Cup victory has given us a good picture of the talent that is available. We had five new faces in the team that won in Sri Lanka and the performances were good.

If you have to point out any thing about women’s cricket in India that needs to be immediately improved, what would that be?
A couple of years ago, I would have talked about the facilities, the monetary help, the constant search for sponsorship. Now, with the BCCI taking care of that, I would say it is we players who need to step up the effort. The fielding has to get better and we need to concentrate a lot on our fitness levels. Till the time we leave for England (in September), there will be a few camps but even otherwise, the players need to take their personal training very seriously. England and Australia are as tough as any destination can get. Actually, the Sri Lanka victory cannot be viewed as the right parameter. The real test will begin when we tour these countries, where wickets are fast and bouncy.

Do we have the right support staff?
The team has a physio and a fitness trainer. We have a fielding coach in Atul Gaekwad, who has done an amazing job for us. Actually, before Gaekwad joined, there were a lot of things we didn’t know or had never heard about. Therefore, the support staff is fine.

What is there on your wish list in terms of further improvement?
We need to tour more. If we can play teams like Australia and England more consistently then the cricket will definitely improve a lot more. Perhaps we even need to play with the men’s team once in a while. The better the competition, the better we’ll get.

Are you confident of competing with the men’s team?
Of course, why not.