We are playing international cricket after more than a year and everyone is looking forward to that. But it’s not like we have been idle since the Quadrangular tournament in February.
In September the new domestic season started and this year we had two-day games for the inter-state tournament and the qualifiers for the nationals. Then in February for the first time we had the Challenger Trophy for women. The board had approached us once they planned the tournament and I was happy they wanted the same format that we wanted. The games were interesting because the national players were sorted into the three teams, so it wasn’t as if 10 India players were in one side, because then you can’t really find out how good a player is.
I keep an eye on any young talent coming up the ranks in domestic cricket. In fact anyone who plays well against my team, Railways, which is the strongest in women’s cricket, is someone who soon can make it to the national side. Lots of very young girls play against us in the domestic circuit.
In the months we are off before the season begins, we usually train individually. I have Nooshin Al Khadeer working with me in Hyderabad for South Central Railways so we hang out a lot and train together as well. Otherwise, when free, I like to catch up with my cousins, go for family get-togethers because as sports persons we don’t get to spend enough time with them while touring.
The Indian Premier League has been hogging the headlines all these days but we were at camp preparing for the Asia Cup and I didn’t have the energy to sit up late and watch the matches. Some of the younger girls are very enthusiastic and keep us updated. Next year we will be playing a Twenty20 World Cup alongside men but I think it’s important that a domestic tournament be organised so that the girls get used to playing Twenty20. Earlier it was just a bang-bang format but now there is a lot more thought going in to how to space your innings etc.
Looking ahead to the Asia Cup itself, I am happy it now has four teams, with Bangladesh entering the tournament for the first time. Asian cricket is no doubt improving. Pakistan have qualified for the World Cup which means there will be three Asian sides – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka – in Australia next year and that is a good thing.
I have been to Sri Lanka twice – in 1997 and 2004 - and it’s a wonderful place but the climate is too hot to step out. However when you’re in a different country you must take the chance of having a look around. You can sit at home when you’re in India. I’d love to try water-sports but I can’t swim! But roller-coaster rides in water parks are fun so if the team is game, we could do that.
Hey Mithali, All the best for Asia cup! Bring the cup back home again!!!
Posted by: flypen at May 3, 2008 12:25 AM
Hey Mithali,
Good to see your blog. I have been a big follower of womens' cricket for a long time. Good to see that a few games are coming up and most importantly some deserving attention. I only hope to be able to watch a few of your games from here in the US.
All the best.
Posted by: Vivek at May 3, 2008 6:07 AM
All the best to you and the Indian team, Mithali. A strong performance in the Asia Cup and consistent performances during the rest of 2008 would be the ideal preparation for next years World Cup.
Posted by: Hema at May 7, 2008 11:54 AM
Hey Mithali.. great going in Asia cup.. Ur team is performing very well.. all the very best for the other matches too.. :)
Posted by: suman at May 7, 2008 7:45 PM
Hi mythali
I am a big fan of you. Your doing a great job for the national team. keep going
gud luck
Posted by: antara at May 7, 2008 7:52 PM
good luck mithali! looking forward to the day women's cricket hogs the headlines!
Posted by: Rohit Jain at May 7, 2008 10:10 PM
Hi Mithali
Best of Luck to Indian Team for Asia Cup. Can you post a team photo next time in your blog
Posted by: Savi at May 10, 2008 7:25 AM
Hi Mithali
It's great to see women's cricket coming up! I play cricket in a girl's team as well and I really want to bring up the profile of women's cricket. All the best for the Asia Cup and can't wait to see you guys in Sydney next year!
Mithali Raj, India's former captain, has been on the international circuit for a decade. In August 2006, she led India to their first-ever Test and series win in England and capped off the year by winning the Asia Cup - the second time in 12 months - without dropping a game. India, under her captaincy, also reached the World Cup final in 2005. Now, as one of the senior members of the side, and the premier batsman, a lot will be riding on her for the two World Cups - 50-over and Twenty20 - that India will play in 2009.
Urooj Mumtaz managed to juggle a course in dentistry along with captaining Pakistan. Their most recent triumph was qualifying for the World Cup next year and the 22-year old Urooj will lead a young team to Australia in hope of creating a favourable impression of the Pakistan women's team among the other sides as well as back home. A legspinner, she has a hat-trick against Zimbabwe.
Cri-zelda Brits became South Africa’s captain at the age of 23, standing in for Shandre Fritze in the home series against Pakistan in 2007. She followed this by captaining the side to a 3-0 series whitewash against the Netherlands as well as winning the first-ever Test between the two sides by 159 runs. In 2008 she scored her maiden ODI hundred and led South Africa to a spot in the World Cup after beating Pakistan in the Qualifiers final in Stellenbosch. She also coaches the Northwest women's team, based in Potchefstroom, and runs her own academy.
Shelley Nitschke combines playing for Australia and her state with working in cricket, as a school officer. A useful spinner, her batting is also worth talking about – she has developed into a handy allrounder. Her major achievements to date are winning the 2005 World Cup, taking 7 for 24 against England in Kidderminster in 2005 and being nominated for the ICC Women's Player of the Year in 2006-07. Although she has played netball, softball and basketball, cricket has always been her stand-out sport.
Ebony Rainford-Brent made history as one of eight England players to be handed a Chance to Shine coaching contract, allowing her flexibility around training. A top-order batsman, she fought back from what doctors thought was a career-killing back injury and could one day bowl again – calling her determined is an understatement. She is on the Surrey Academy and her Super 4s side is Diamonds. Proficient in basketball and athletics, she settled for playing cricket … and the drums.
Haidee Tiffen has played for New Zealand for more than ten years and is now their captain, having begun her career with Otago Under-21s before heading to Canterbury. She has played representational hockey, basketball and rugby – but cricket is her passion and won out over New Zealand junior hockey. She is particularly proud of winning the World Cup in 2000, reaching the 100-ODI milestone and being skipper. Her experience also includes playing for Sussex for two winters and she was also part of the first female academy in Lincoln. Somehow she also finds time to teach Health and PE at Hillmorton High School.
Isobel Joyce,a class bat with a steely mentality, comes from a family full of cricketers - twin sister Cecilia plays alongside her for Ireland and brother Dom for the men’s national team, while another brother, Ed, plays for England and Middlesex. Her first half-century came against a strong New Zealand attack in Dublin in 2004 and her figures of 4 for 20 helped her side beat Scotland by six wickets in the European Championship in 2001, where Ireland won all their three matches. Her 46 against Netherlands in the summer of 2007 helped to maintain her place in the World Cup qualifiers in South Africa. She was in outstanding form with both and ball during the tournament, scoring 148 runs at 37 and taking 10 wickets at an average of 7. She ran out five Pakistani players in Ireland's first match, before earning two successive Player-of-the-Match awards against Scotland and then Zimbabwe, against whom she scored 70 and took 4 for 10. She was named captain for their next series, against West Indies, after Heather Whelan pulled out because she was expecting.
Nadine George has been a regular for West Indies since her debut in 1999. She first led the side on their tour of Europe in June-July 2008, when West Indies thrashed Ireland and Netherlands while putting up a respectable performance against England. Nadine combines playing for West Indies and her national team, St.Lucia, with her day job as a Sergeant in the Police Marine Unit of the Royal St.Lucia Police Force. A left-hand batsman and wicketkeeper, Nadine says the highlights of her career are receiving an MBE at Buckingham Palace in 2005, being the first West Indies woman cricketer to score a century in a Test (in Pakistan in 2004), playing in the World Cup in South Africa (2005), and playing club cricket in Australia in 2006. Nadine also plays netball and volleyball and loves the marine environment and is passionate about diving. She is a qualified open water diver and during her working hours captains a 65 and 82 ft vessel. Her motto in life is "with hard work and dedication one can achieve".
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