Mithali Raj on Tests for women's cricket: Just the beginning

Ahead of one-off Test v England, India skipper Mithali Raj bats for more longer format matches to improve overall standard of women’s cricket

India women’s team captain Mithali Raj on Tuesday said she took advice of other cricketers to better prepare for the longest format ahead of the one-off Test against England starting here today.

Mithali, who has represented India in 10 Test matches, last played a Test in 2014. “I have played lesser Tests than ODI and T20, I would have liked more Test matches. I wouldn’t really get down to thinking whether my game is evolved in this format, but the preparation has been very similar,” Mithali said at the match-eve virtual press conference.

“And probably talking to many other cricketers, trying to get how they prepare for the longer format has helped me to prepare for this Test match,” added Mithali, without taking names of the cricketers, whom she had spoken to.

Mithali said she would not want rookie players to be burdened with expectations and would advice them to enjoy the game. “Well, we did brief them [players] about how the long format is played and clearly for someone who is making a debut, you don’t want to burden them with expectations and responsibility.

“So, it is just that I would brief together as a team, support them on the field and they should just enjoy playing this format,” the skipper added. Mithali also batted for having all three formats in a bilateral series going ahead, saying the away Tests against England and Australia are just the beginning.

“Yes, I feel that this Test match [against England] and even the pink-ball Test in Australia in the coming months, it is just the beginning of having a three-format bilateral series. It probably opens the channel to have another format added in the bilateral series and that clearly will help the overall standard of women’s cricket.”

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