India women aiming high

Mithali Raj © Getty Images

Buy this photo

India captain Mithali Raj believes her team can carry forward its winning momentum from last year’s Asia Cup into the upcoming quadrangular series in Chennai.

India won the Asia Cup in December, going unbeaten through the tournament against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and Raj feels that form will stand her side is good stead in the upcoming series with England, Australia and New Zealand.

“We played good competitive cricket in the last tournament and I think if we carry forward the same impetus, we stand a very good chance of doing even better in this competition,” said the 24 year-old, who is already a veteran of eight Tests and 86 one-day internationals.

“The quadrangular series is the toughest series after the World Cup and every team will be well prepared."

India will obviously benefit from the tournament taking place on home soil and that is important because its track record at home has been far more impressive than its performance on the road.

Besides its Asia Cup triumph in Jaipur last December that earned it a hat-trick of titles, India beat England 4-1 in a five-match series in December 2005 and also drew the one-off Test against the same opponents.

And although India lost the seven-match ODI series against Australia 4-3 in December 2004, the matches were far closer than the results suggest.

Claire Taylor will have a key batting role for England during the ODIs © Getty Images

Buy this photo

However, in July 2002, India won just one game in the tri-series against hosts England and New Zealand, before losing five games out of six in the last quadrangular series, in February 2003 in New Zealand.

India did better in the Women’s World Cup in South Africa where it lost the final to Australia by 98 runs but it lost a five-match ODI series 4-1 to New Zealand in March 2006.

It also lost every match of a three-game ODI series to Australia in February 2006 and went down by an innings and four runs in a one-off Test against the same opponents.

But rather than focus on that travel sickness, Raj prefers to look at the task at hand, in front of their home fans.

“Our improved performance at home has much to do with the home conditions and the home crowd which has been very supportive,” she said.

“But we are a team that is gradually improving and if we manage to combine our individual brilliance then we can be a very dangerous side.

“We have to pounce on every opportunity that comes our way. The other three competitors have a rich history and experience behind them, and the only way to do better against them is to capitalise on every opportunity which surely will come our way,” Raj added.

Charlotte Edwards will lead England © Getty Images

Buy this photo

The captain, who can boast a score of 214 against England in a Test match, believes every match before the 2009 ICC Women’s World Cup in Australia is vital for the team’s build-up and preparations.

“Every match we play before then is important,” she said. “It provides us an opportunity to assess our preparations and progress. Basically we are a team in transition and trying to gain experience with each match.

“I believe this is the best that is happening to women’s cricket in India that the top three teams are coming here. Not only we will get an opportunity to learn from their experiences, but women’s cricket in India will get a significant boost. Cricket is the flavour of the season and I am hoping we all will benefit from it."

Raj singled out 16-year-old left-handed opener Thirush Kamini as the player to watch in the competition.

“I have no doubt that she is a future star. She is immensely talented and a hard working girl. I know how eagerly she is waiting for the series to start because she will be playing in front of her home crowd,” Raj said.

Kamini made headlines in the Asia Cup, her debut series, in which she walked away with the player of the tournament award following a brilliant all-round performance that saw her score 135 runs and take eight wickets with her leg-spin.

The quadrangular series will run in Chennai between February 21 and March 5 with each team playing the three other line-ups twice each. India open their campaign against England at Chepauk on Wednesday.