Middle order persisted: Chopra
First Published : 16 Mar 2012, 20:58
Last Modified : 29 Jun 2012, 13:04
Mumbai, Mar 16: The visiting Australian side beat India at the Wankhede Stadium to win the Women’s ODI series 3-0. The teams will now play five T20Is in Vizag between March 18-23.
In the post-match media interaction, India captain Anjum Chopra and Australian skipper Jodie Fields reflected on their respective teams’ performances in the ODI series. Fields also discussed the visitors’ plans for the T20 series.
Excerpts:
India skipper Anjum Chopra:
On the positives from the match today
Nooshin Al-Khadder completing her 100th wicket is the first positive. [...] Again, the middle-order showing a lot of heart out there, especially after losing three early wickets, is another positive for me from today’s game.
On India’s batting today – the fightback after the defeat in the previous match
[...] We were not ready to give up till the last ball was bowled and till the [final] run was scored. Batting has been a bit of a concern as we have not been touching the 220s-230s consistently. We have been around the 180 [-run] mark. Today again we managed to reach [close to] 180. At one stage, when we lost the first three wickets, it looked a little difficult [to even reach 175]. But as I said, the middle order showed a lot of character and showed the zeal to stand in there and fight the odds. It is a very big positive.
On the upcoming T20s
As far as the T20s [are concerned], they are the current world champions. They are a much better side than us. But to compete, get out there and fight it out against the Australians will definitely be a good for us.
On Harmanpreet Kaur’s innings
She is very good. She has been the player in form for us for the last couple of weeks and she has really applied herself. It was a good partnership; to be in the centre and bat with her, with her playing the attacking one and me, the rotating partner [was good]. [...] It is always good to be amongst the runs and she is enjoying that right now.
Australia skipper Jodie Fields
On the match today
I don’t think there were any weaknesses, to be honest. We were calm during our batting. We knew India were going to come out and fight hard today and they did that but I am very happy with the way we bowled. Jess Cameron did well in the middle to get 90-odd [runs][...].
On their plan for the five T20Is in Vizag
The gameplan for Twenty20s doesn’t change too much. We still want to go in with an aggressive mindset which we have done in the ODIs [...] We will take it one game at a time and see how we go.
We have done well as a team so far. We have adjusted very well so far to the conditions and wickets. We are not expecting anything different in Vizag. We have been bowling very well too; Ellyse Perry, Lisa Sthalekar, Julie Hunter have done a great job, so we hope to see a continuation of that.
On whether they had planned to use the Powerplays the way they did
We bowled a pretty tight line. Lisa and Julie Hunter bowled well in the bowling Powerplay and Cameron hit sixes [in that period]. So probably they are important parts of the game but not any more important than any other part of the game.
On their expectations of the conditions in India
Probably the only thing we expected to be different was the spin. I don’t think [it was there] as much as we thought. Spin has actually been skiddy and come through quite low. I am not sure if that will change in Vizag but we will just play in the conditions as they come and see how it goes.
Australian batsman Jess Cameron
On the side’s expectations of the Indian team
Cameron: […] They are a very strong side [...] Every time we play them it is a competition and we know that [...]. I am sure they will come hard at us in the Twenty20s as well.
