Girls Aloud
Tough Twenty20 draw, and a new coach
Judging by some of the comments on the blog, plenty of people think I have some work to do on my game, so they will be pleased to know I now have my own coach to really help me develop my batting
Urooj Mumtaz
25-Feb-2013
It has been great to read all the comments in reply to my last blog and have so much interest in the fortunes of the team. Unfortunately, the arrangements for playing in England haven't worked out this year but I am very keen to try and play next summer.
I am very excited about today's announcement on the ICC World Twenty20 2009. It has been officially confirmed that we will be playing in a joint event with the men next year, with the semis and final of the women's event taking place as a curtain-raiser to the men's event.
Normally I am glued to the action whenever Pakistan's men are playing in an international event, so to be part of the same event is going to be an incredible feeling.
Full postAwards night in Johannesburg
It was good to find out how the guys are preparing for their tour of England and how they compare to our preparations
Cri-Zelda Brits
25-Feb-2013
It was a case of third time lucky on Tuesday night when I was awarded the South African Women’s Player of the Year award at a glamorous ceremony in Sandton, Johannesburg.
I had been shortlisted twice before for the award but never managed to win the accolade, so it was a special moment to finally receive my trophy.
I think my award was in recognition of the efforts of leading the side to success at the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier and for my first ODI century against Netherlands at that event, which was especially pleasing as my coach had been working with me for a long time to try and help me reach three figures in a big match.
Full postHard work and help from John Wright
We had our first winter camp in preparation for the World Cup at the Queen's birthday weekend
Haidee Tiffen
25-Feb-2013
World Cups just sneak up on you! It does not seem that long ago that we were in South Africa in 2005 battling it out. I know every team is looking forward to the World Cup next year as this is what we play for, the challenge to be the best in the world. After a disappointing home series in February losing to both England and Australia, New Zealand are ready to move forward and are determined to prove that we can be world champions. We know that means we need to knuckle down to hard work, hard work and more hard work.
We had our first winter camp in preparation for the World Cup at the Queen's birthday weekend. It was great to see everyone again with the girls arriving fresh and raring to go. We spent time establishing a strong foundation for our journey to the World Cup and started by spending time remembering where we began our cricketing endeavours and why we play the game.
Full postDomestic revisions, and why Railways are the strongest side
I believe one way of getting talent fast-tracked in to the state sides is through Under-19 zonal tournaments
Mithali Raj
25-Feb-2013
Mithali Raj
Our Railways camp ends today in Mysore and it was a satisfying one considering it is our first off-season camp. We have the strongest side in domestic cricket but that is because a good number of India players play for Railways. And that is because Indian Railways is one of the few organisations to offer employment to cricket-playing girls. However it is not that other teams can’t beat us at all, but since we are a very experienced side we are on top more often that not.
While the camp was on, I had to go to to attend a board meeting on women’s cricket. Jhulan Goswami, the vice-captain, was also there along with the national selectors. I can’t really discuss what went on in the meeting but I am happy to say a domestic Twenty20 competition has been added to next season’s calendar keeping in mind the World Cup in England next June. I have said earlier that it is important for players to get some experience in the short format before the World Cup – not only national players but also those in the domestic circuit. The IPL has been a huge hit and now everyone is eager to play this format.
Full postThe future looks bright
Cri-Zelda Brits on South Africa’s preparations ahead of the Women’s World Cup next year
Cri-Zelda Brits
25-Feb-2013
Cri-Zelda Brits
I can’t believe we are already in June and the first ball of the ICC Women’s World Cup is only nine months away. We have recently completed our first training camp and it was great to be back together as a team for the first time since winning the World Cup qualifier in Stellenbosch in February.
There was a great spirit among the team and there was a lot of focus not just on our upcoming tour of England, where all the girls can’t wait for the opportunity to play at Lord’s for the first time, but on how we can get the best out of the squad ahead of the two major ICC events next year.
Full postAn overseas player job application
If anybody knows somebody looking for an international skipper, good batsman, lively fielder and spin bowler for their club team in England let me know
Urooj Mumtaz
25-Feb-2013
I am now back in Pakistan after the conclusion of the Women's Asia Cup and it is good to be home after such a disappointing performance at the event.
We know we didn't do as well as we should have done in the tournament, but at least we managed to register one victory against Bangladesh in our return match.
There were few highlights to pick out at the event apart from my recording my first ODI fifty against Sri Lanka and Javeria Khan's extraordinary match-winning performance against Bangladesh when she took 6-8.
Full postAn easier ride than expected
Overall, I felt it was a good tournament for India
Mithali Raj
25-Feb-2013
Mithali Raj
It’s good to be home after a successful tour. When we landed last night in Chennai there were a lot of reporters waiting for us but I had to rush to catch my connecting flight to Hyderabad and couldn’t give any interviews. There have been a few calls for interviews here as well.
Overall, I felt it was a good tournament for India. We tried out five newcomers and I am happy that all of them utilised the opportunity to ease themselves in to international cricket. As far as the other teams are concerned, at the start of the tournament I thought we would get some stiff competition, but after the first leg, I felt it was easier than it should have been.
Full postTwo-hour drives, and a six-match winning streak
I wouldn’t say it was tough to score but it wasn’t easy either
Mithali Raj
25-Feb-2013
Mithali Raj
We have won all our matches and that feels great but there is no point winning all the league matches if you lose the final – for then you’ve lost the Asia Cup. So we have to maintain our focus till the end.
Full postRoom for improvement
Four matches, four defeats is not exactly how I imagined our Asia Cup campaign would begin
Urooj Mumtaz
25-Feb-2013
Urooj Mumtaz
Four matches, four defeats is not exactly how I imagined our Asia Cup campaign would begin. Quite simply, our batting, bowling and fielding hasn't been up to the levels that I would expect considering the ability of players in our team.
We always knew that it would be a challenge to take on the likes of India and Sri Lanka, who are two of the best sides in the world, but we shouldn't really being losing to Bangladesh. However, we have been really impressed with how they have taken the playing at this level and they should be congratulated on the impact that they have on this tournament in their inaugural appearance.
Full postInternational cricket after a year
Asian cricket is no doubt improving
Mithali Raj
25-Feb-2013
Mithali Raj
We are playing international cricket after more than a year and everyone is looking forward to that. But it’s not like we have been idle since the Quadrangular tournament in February.
In September the new domestic season started and this year we had two-day games for the inter-state tournament and the qualifiers for the nationals. Then in February for the first time we had the Challenger Trophy for women. The board had approached us once they planned the tournament and I was happy they wanted the same format that we wanted. The games were interesting because the national players were sorted into the three teams, so it wasn’t as if 10 India players were in one side, because then you can’t really find out how good a player is.
Full post