Published: Sep 02, 2014, 09:37 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 02, 2014, 09:38 PM (IST)
Kolkata: Sep 2, 2014
Indian pace spearhead Jhulan Goswami on Tuesday rued that lack of an international calendar for women’s cricket was affecting their performance and she urged the need to focus on Women’s World Cup in 2017.
Indian women’s cricket team played a Test after six years as they defeated the English team by six wickets in a one-off Test in England which was a saving grace for Indian cricket in England with the MS Dhoni-led team losing the Test series 1-3.
“As of now, we don’t know when will be our next international commitment, we don’t have an international calendar. It’s really difficult at this level. We badly need international exposure,” the lanky speedster lamented.
The former India Women captain further said the priority should be to focus on the World Cup in three years time which would also be held in England.
“We must pick a lot of about 25-30 players and give them at least 30-35 international experience before they play the World Cup,” Jhulan said thanking the Board for organising preparatory camp before an international series but said it was not enough.
“In England, we played with eight Test debutants, that’s why our win was more satisfying than our 2006 win. At that time our side was more experienced with the likes of Anjum Chopra,” the 31-year-old who was felicitated by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) with a gold chain and locket here this evening, said.
“But this side is pretty raw. I led the bowling while (captain) Mithali Raj led the batting. It was very important to beat England in England,” Jhulan, who claimed five wickets and was involved in a crucial 45-run partnership with Niranjana Nagrajan for the seventh wicket, added.
