Intensity and introspection have marked the steady build-up to the ODI series between India and England that commences with the first match here on Friday.
Jhulan Goswami's women and England led by Charlotte Edwards have been busy training hard and devising strategies as the five-match series to be followed by three twenty20 games, pits Indian hopes against English belligerence.
The Indian team has had an extended camp at the Chinnaswamy Stadium and the adjoining National Cricket Academy while England has hit the straps with a thumping 141-run victory over Board President's XI here on Wednesday.
“We had a good allround game but we have never won against India in India and it is a massive challenge,” Charlotte said.
Not overwhelmed
Thankfully for India, Jhulan refused to be overwhelmed. “Yes England is the number one team but we just have to play good cricket. We have defeated them earlier and in the camp here, we have worked hard on bowling during the Power Play as well as our fielding,” Jhulan said. The Indian squad will look at its core group of Mithali Raj, Anjum Chopra, Rumeli Dhar, Amita Sharma and Nooshin Al Khadeer to guide the team in which Soniya Dabir is the lone new face.
India will have to play at its best though against England with its athleticism and the halo of being the World Cup winner. Wednesday's effort in which Sarah Taylor and Lydia Greenway chipped in the runs while seamer Katherine Brunt struck a nice rhythm and Laura Marsh found some purchase with her off-spin, has enhanced the team's morale. Add to it Michael Vaughan's pep-talk and the squad does have a spring in its step. The former England captain is here with the colts team and Charlotte said his words were inspiring.
The Indian camp too gained its share of wisdom as Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid shared their inputs with the group over the past few days. England though has proclaimed its intentions to target Indian skipper and spearhead Jhulan as coach Mark Lane earlier said: “We want to put Jhulan under the pump.” India though has home-advantage and a skipper who believes that her team can perform under pressure.
The teams:
India: Jhulan Goswami (captain), Mithali Raj, Anjum Chopra, Rumeli Dhar, Amita Sharma, Priyanka Roy, Anagha Despande, Poonam Raut, Harmanpreet Kaur, Thirush Kamini, Gouher Sultana, Nooshin Al Khadeer, Preeti Dimri and Soniya Dabir. Coach: Sudha Shah.
England: Charlotte Edwards (captain), Nicola Shaw, Caroline Atkins, Tamsin Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Lydia Greenway, Isa Guha, Jenny Gunn, Danielle Hazell, Laura Marsh, Beth Morgan, Ebony Rainford Brent, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor and Danielle Wyatt. Coach: Mark Lane.
Umpires: Suresh Shastri and Shamsuddin; Third umpire: Ravi Shankar; Match referee: B. Raghunath.
Match starts at 9.30 a.m.
