Mithali bats for more Test matches

Five-day ties are the ultimate test: skipper

Captain Mithali Raj is the common factor in the two World Cup finals — 2005 and 2017 — India have played.

She admitted that never before, even after reaching the 2005 final, were they mobbed by fans and media with such intensity. She hoped women’s cricket would continue to enjoy such support and build on its Word Cup success.

The Hyderabad-based bats­woman advocated playing more Test matches and coverage of their matches in television for the continued progress of women cricket.

Despite making her Test debut in 2002, Mithali, among the most experienced cricketers in the team, has played only 10 Tests. “Test matches are the ultimate test for cricketers, whether it is your temperament, skill or endurance. As of now, every board wishes to market the sport through T20 and ODIs as they are the ideal formats. But to have quality players I feel Test matches should be played as frequently as limited over games. But then other teams should also be ready to play Test matches,” Mithali said during the BCCI's felicitation ceremony on Thursday.

“It is important there is a follow up. For that it is a must to have regular tours and series which are televised, so that people who follow women’s cricket can always be in touch.”

Mithali was overwhelmed by the reception. “I have seen days before the BCCI took over and after that. I am fortunate I continued to play. Today I am seeing this phase in women's cricket, the reception we have got has been overwhelming,” she said.

“I clearly remember, despite doing well in 2005 World Cup, we never got this kind of a reception. It is a nice feeling after what we have all gone through and feel appreciated for the effort.”

Among the stars of the World Cup following her knock against Australia, Harmanpreet Kaur said her experience in women's Big Bash came handy. “The mindset is totally different there. I saw it from both sides -- how we prepare ourselves and how Australians go about their pre-match preparations. They remain very active, their activities are also hard. We have just started similarly doing things two years back in India. They have been doing it from school times.”

“I had faced their bowlers for two months in Australia, so the confidence level was higher against them. I was aware of what their bowling would be exactly like, their fielding and mental set up. When you play in different leagues, you feel more comfortable against oppositions.”

Speaking on the advent of power hitting in women's cricket, Harmanpreet said: “When we follow men's cricket we get to learn a lot. Even in women's cricket everybody has realised that score like 250 is also not safe. Nowadays women's cricket too has become quite fast, thanks to T20 leagues.”

The defeat in final still hurts Harmanpreet. “No one knows what will happen next year. I still feel the match was in our hands, we missed the chance. When I think about it, it feels really bad.”