Challenges in Women's Cricket

On December 12, Smriti Mandhana, the vice-captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, discussed the challenges of transitioning from T20 and one-day cricket to Test cricket. She emphasized the current focus on white-ball cricket in the domestic structure due to international cricket demands, particularly T20 and one-day matches.

Mandhana mentioned the need for more red-ball cricket internationally to prompt a change in the domestic structure. Currently, only a few countries, including India, England, Australia, and South Africa, actively participate in women’s Test cricket.

She highlighted that the current domestic structure aligns with international demands, as players have been extensively involved in T20 and one-day formats in the last four to five years. Mandhana mentioned her limited experience in red-ball cricket, having played only four Test matches in ten years. She expressed the possibility of introducing a domestic tournament dedicated to two-day or four-day matches if there is a significant increase in international Test matches.

Additionally, Mandhana discussed the preparations for the upcoming one-off Test against England. With limited players in the current squad having Test match experience, she mentioned seeking guidance from the head coach, Amol Muzumdar, who has extensive experience in longer formats at the domestic level.

As a key batter for India, Mandhana’s performance in the upcoming Test against England will be crucial. She had previously scored a century in the four-day Test against Australia in 2021, and the team hopes for a similar impactful innings. The article provides insights into Mandhana’s perspective on the challenges of transitioning between formats and the team’s preparation for the upcoming Test match.

_{Repurposed article originally published in Social News XYZ}