Brits looks forward to challenge

Africa women's cricket team captain Cri-Zelda Brits believes their Twenty20 game against Asia will open more doors for women to enhance their skills and will draw better crowds who have so far been absent from the longer version of the game.

The 23 year-old South African, looking ahead at the 5 June match to be played in Bangalore, also thinks that the latest version of the game should be played more often arguing that it would provide women's sport with much needed extra exposure.

"I think for one that it'll be a big marketing strategy and secondly, being an amateur sport, I think it needs as much exposure as possible," she said.

"It can definitely be used more often as there is nothing better for us as female cricketers than to compete at international level as much as possible, to enhance our skills and measure ourselves as international sports people," she said.

Brits, a fast-medium bowler, has taken six wickets in three Tests and 22 wickets in 27 one-dayers. And in her short career, she has proved that she is a capable batsman by averaging 20.66 in Tests and 29.10 in one-dayers.

"I personally feel that Twenty20 games play a huge part in developing one-day skills. It helps you learn how to improvise all the time. It also has that discipline factor to it, along with the strength to draw better crowds due to the shortened version of it."

Brits refused to be drawn into a comparison with men's Twenty20 where spectators see a flurry of boundaries and tall scores. "It exists, in its own level and in its own right where two teams will be battling to end up on the winning side."

Brits will be leading the team that include two players each from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe and four from South Africa, including herself. Asia features players from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

According to Brits, Asia's home advantage will play a part. "I think the Asian players will know the conditions better and I think slow bowlers will play a huge part in the game.

"But overall, it should be a good contest and a great experience for both sides. To me, it's a huge honour to represent Africa and to play in India where cricket is considered to be like a second religion."