The Indian women’s cricket team will take to the field for their first-ever pink-ball test against hosts Australia at the Carrara Oval in Gold Coast. Since 2006, this is the first time that they will play two Tests in a year.
Australian coach Matthew Mott says whoever works out the conditions first could gain the upper hand. “(The ODIs before) sets out really well for a great Test,” he said at a pre-match press conference. “(Gold Coast) is a nice, fresh place to be in. What it will come down to is who adapts quickest to the conditions that’s presented to them. Who gets to the game and finds out the conditions the quickest…going to be a fascinating contest.”
The last test played by the Indian team was in England where the team claimed a very creditable draw after following on.
From an Indian perspective, there will be no Harmanpreet Kaur. That’s a blow considering the nature of the pink-ball test, what with bowlers holding sway. The 47-year-old touches upon the aspect of the four-day game. “Unlike the men, we don’t really have the reverse but in that twilight period, it can get tricky. You have to bowl well but it’s an opportunity to pick some wickets. It’s up to you ask questions with the ball.”
Though the hosts possess good bowlers of their own, Mott namechecked the likes of Goswami, Meghna Singh and Pooja Vastrakar as pacers who could do serious damage in their line-up. “It (India’s bowling line-up) has definitely become more varied,” he said. “We have traditionally faced a lot of spins, they (India) are building nicely in that department. I guess it’s the last piece of jigsaw that India is looking to fill, it’s great for the game to have young fast-bowlers coming through.”
