The Indian women’s cricket coach, Amol Muzumdar on Wednesday underlined the distinctiveness of playing this game in five-day format. He said he was confident that his team had fully prepared to tackle South Africa in their one off Test match and they had been involved in a domestic multi-day inter-zonal tournament.
In December 2023, the Indian women’s team demonstrated its ability to perform at Test matches by defeating England and Australia.
After these victories, the team has grown in confidence as it enters South Africa’s backyard.
“We are happy playing all three forms but Tests are always special. BCCI did well to incorporate the inter-zonal into the multi-day format after two consecutive Tests against England and Australia in December, and hence all of them have played red-ball cricket for so long,” he said during a press meet.
This resulted into a thrilling win over South Zone by just one wicket scored by Deepti Sharma leading East Zone during the final held last April thus securing their championship title.
At this point, Indian women’s domestic season came to an end for 2023-24.
“Going forward we know there would be red-ball cricket,” Muzumdar added. “Therefore, inter-zonal was important so that players get that.”
“It would do lot of good for the sport,” Muzumdar told about wanting to see a Women’s Test Championship introduced.
“It’s not bad idea for (Women’s) test championship; something we can look forward to. But that is for Board to decide. If it happens it is indeed better for the game.” he concluded
The coach of India’s Women team admitted improvements could be made across all aspects of their games’ play….
“We need improvement in all three departments; always along with fitness.” We have got some momentum but we are taking each game as it comes at us.” The demands are different because it is another format and the team is prepared for that.
“We try to cater for it all because these are demands of modern-day cricket; there’s no way you can escape that. There have been a few changes in the squad (from the ODIs), but the core remains the same. We understand that and we are ready to adapt,” he added.
Since their birth, Indian women’s cricket team has only played one test match at Chennai which was against West Indies in 1976 and ended in a draw.
“It’s an iconic ground; we know its history.” It has not hosted so much cricket but we know what its needs are—the pitch and ground conditions. We will try to cater for that,” he said
The forthcoming Test could see new faces emerge on the international scene as some players may be set to make their debuts. Shubha Satheesh, Sneh Rana, Rajeshwar Gayakwad, and Saika Ishaque among others might be provided with an opportunity to prove themselves in the longest format of this game by playing first time for their nation.
Those players are important and we had a bowling camp at the NCA. They specifically got the red ball. While their weekly chart was organized and handed to them, they were told a few things to do. They practiced yesterday. And They look all right. They are very fresh and eager to get started.
Commenting on the prospect of having Shabnam Md Shakil play, Muzumdar hailed her as a ‘superb talent’.
“We made a small decision so that she could be in the dressing room with everybody else.”
The just concluded ODIs against South Africa which India won 3-0 saw Smriti Mandhana bowl three overs and even grab a wicket.
When asked if she would bowl in the Test, Muzumdar said,” She would be happy when I say yes with the red ball.”
“But remember we have trained like this and put in some effort concisely. It was not something that happened only on that day.”
