We have won all our matches and that feels great but there is no point winning all the league matches if you lose the final – for then you’ve lost the Asia Cup. So we have to maintain our focus till the end.
What has been satisfying is that the girls who are making their debuts are performing really well and that shows that our standard is higher than the other sides. Pujare Seema, who is the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 11 from four games, has been impressive. She has the slow loop of an offspinner and on a turning wicket she can give a lot of problems. With Jhulan Goswami getting 100 wickets, we now have two players – the other being Neetu David – in the side who have reached the landmark. Now I’m looking forward to other bowlers getting to that milestone – Rumeli Dhar and Amita Sharma.
I have had a good tournament as a batsman as well. At the international level, most bowlers don’t give you enough width to play your stroke. Most teams rely on stump-to-stump bowling so when they don’t give you any loose balls, you have to convert good balls in to run-scoring ones and at times play the ball on its merit. I wouldn’t say it was tough to score but it wasn’t easy either. Sri Lanka are a very good fielding side. And Bangladesh, who are playing at this level for the first time, have a very disciplined bowling attack. They have to improve in a lot of areas but they are very good for a side playing at this level for the first time. Salma Khatun, the Bangladesh captain, is a very good batsman and bowler.
The week has been really tiring mostly because the Welagedara Stadium is two hours away from the team hotel, which means we have to set out for a 10AM match at 6.30AM! And by the time we get back it is 8PM. Most of the girls just catch up on sleep during the bus drive and no one really has the energy to celebrate our wins.
There have hardly been any spectators at the matches – in Dambulla I think the Sri Lankan players’ families and friends showed up but at Welagedara, where Sri Lanka played their second leg of matches, I had expected a lot more people to come and watch because one side of the ground faces the road and people can just walk in. The only spectators were kids bunking school and college. A little bit of the footage from the matches is shown during the local news hour.
I wouldn’t say it was tough to score but it wasn’t easy either. Sri Lanka are a very good fielding side. And Bangladesh, who are playing at this level for the first time, have a very disciplined bowling attack
Congratulations!great going..i have been hearing ur progress through cricinfo website.It is good to see the indian team performing well.
Convey my congratulations to Jhulan.Hope u do well in the finals..All the Best.
I know its hard as there is no motivation..but ur team can pave way to a lot of women in India to enter cricket..
Posted by: Phil at May 9, 2008 7:14 PM
I know that this is small comfort to Mithali but I have been following all the matches via Crickinfo. I have sent them emails to provide ball-by-ball commentary for the final on the 11th.
I think the Indian team led by Mithali is the strongest Asian team by a mile. Many congratulations to the whole team for playing so well. I am really glad the great Neetu David has returned from retirement to play so well -gosh! figures like hers must come along only once in a lifetime.
So sorry so few people have watched the superb matches involving the Indians.
Best wishes for a superb and resounding win on Sunday.
Posted by: ashish at May 9, 2008 7:42 PM
Proud of you and your team Mithali! I am sure your tem would win the finals and in style. Best of luck!!
Posted by: Suchit at May 9, 2008 8:01 PM
Congrats Mithali, on leading and playing so well, I once saw you bat in a onedayer against England and have been your fan ever since.
Keep up the good work and win the finals!
Posted by: Rajarshi at May 9, 2008 8:49 PM
Great column, Ms. Raj. Am sure the grounds would be much fuller if the tournament was held in India. In SL, I really feel women's cricket hasn't caught on the way it has in India. Maybe this could explain the success of the Indian Women's team. Of course, both B'Desh and Pakistan have much to do before they can match India or SL. But good to see they have atleast made a start. Cheers Mithali, and all the best for the finals. Bring home the Cup
Posted by: Vijay at May 9, 2008 8:58 PM
Good going Mithali..make it great by winning the finals.
You gals are making us proud. I think the girls are winning more matches than the boys when it comes to the Indian team. I am sure if you continue your winning streak publicity for the women's team will increase.
All my wishes for you and your team's success.
Posted by: CTDXB at May 10, 2008 5:55 AM
CONGRATULATIONS ...!
AS A SRILANKAN I WILL HOPE THEY ARE NOT EASILY GIVE UP.LETS WATCH THE MATCH...!
Posted by: ali at May 10, 2008 9:04 AM
Terrific show team India. Its unfortunate that there is not enough following but what the heck - just go out and murder on sunday. Proud of you all.
Posted by: Amy at May 10, 2008 10:23 AM
congratulations Mitali! I hope you guys can come back with the trophy! And here is hoping you hit a century in the final!
Posted by: Rajni D. at May 10, 2008 11:52 AM
Congratulations to Indian Women cricket team. I wish all fans take interest in womens cricket. I have been living in USA for more than 36 years and big fan of cricket. I always check the score on cricinfo. I feel great when I read a great progress made by Indian women cricket team. All teams in the world should be proud that women can do as good as or better than men. Keep up the best and very soon, the world of cricket will appreciate your great efforts and achievements.
Best Wishes.
Posted by: melvin at May 10, 2008 1:17 PM
Congratulations to you and your team Mithali, keep up the performance, I'm sure womens team would see better days with such performances. wish you and the tean the very best.
Posted by: jayakumar V V at May 10, 2008 1:23 PM
Congratulations to mithali and her bunch of enterprising kids for a wonderfull performance at the biggest level of cricket in Asia.In an era where focus is on international mens cricket,you and your mates have done proud to womens cricket.
May you and your mates keep the indian flag flying and thus encourage more girls to persue the game.
Wishing you and the team all the best for a fantastic victory in the final.
Posted by: suresh at May 10, 2008 1:27 PM
great going and keep it up. As i am watching the matches through cricinfo and i feel proud of our indian cricketing team with their consecutive wins and great performance including with u. More 2 appreciate but not now. Women cricket ll also get spectators in future as our team performance continue in the same manner. All the best for the sunday's final. Hope 2 send compliments 4 Asia cup.
All the best
Posted by: abhi at May 11, 2008 12:21 AM
Congrats on your teams progress !!
Posted by: Anjo at May 11, 2008 2:27 PM
Congratulations, fantastic! You deserve the cup!
Posted by: Manish Batsa, Roorkee, India at May 11, 2008 3:25 PM
Congrats on winning Asia cup for the fourth time. Don't worry about the lesser following compared to men's team. when women's cricket becomes more popular, your and your team mates will be remembered as the pioneers of Indian women's cricket.
Posted by: suma18 at May 12, 2008 7:42 AM
i'm so proud of your the team! Surely some day you'll be recognised as much as the men! congratulations again, and keep up the amazing work!
Posted by: prasad at May 12, 2008 12:30 PM
Congratulations, Mithali and other team members. U did a great job. Keep it up! To be frank, I hve become a fan of ur team.U were excellent in every field- batting, bowling and fielding. I followed all ur matches on Cricinfo and am proud of u. The win was due to the excellent teamwork and confidence. Every member of the team played their part in the win, especially, Rumeli Dhar, Asha Rawat and Jhulan Goswami. Sultana was excellent on her debut. Keep up this good work in other matches also. I wish u all the best in ur future endeavours.
Posted by: Sandeep at May 12, 2008 7:04 PM
Congratulations, Mithali and other team members of Womens Indian Cricket team. U did a great job. The whole Nation is proud of you :).Hope u get all the Recognistion which u dsrv ..[:)]
Keep winnings matches for India and make the country proud
Posted by: ASB at May 13, 2008 7:30 AM
The women's game definitely needs more support. I have been following it for a long time now and I was wondering if something like giving the women a chance to play in IPL would help raise their visibility. Just a thought.
Posted by: Savi at May 13, 2008 8:00 AM
Hi Mithali, congratulations! Don't worry, womens cricket will rise soon. One of my goals is to join the Indian womens cricket team so there are people who notice you guys and are supporting you. Can't wait til you come down to Sydney next year and win the World Cup!
Posted by: Shah at May 13, 2008 3:22 PM
Congrats to Indian team. But frankly i think Indian team is too good for the other sides. I suggest inclusion of Australia and Newzealand in the Asia Cup tournament as well to raise the standard and avoid the one sided matches of India vs rest in Asia Cup.
Posted by: Ram at May 13, 2008 8:53 PM
Hey, congrats on winning the Asia cup! It is sad that very few spectators come and watch the women's games. I am sure that will probably hurt you women at least a little bit. But always remember that you are paving the way for women's cricket in the future. There will be a time when you are taken more seriously. Just keep doing what you keep doing and all the very best.
Posted by: Randi at May 17, 2008 9:35 AM
Congratulations mitu!
As a sri lanka i will hope they are not easily give up.lets watch the next match.and all so congrats for you.you got it 3000 runs.keep it up.
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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