India women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur on December 16 credited head coach Amol Muzumdar for taking vital decisions for the team, conceding that she lacked the requisite experience of leading in Tests, after they completed a record 347-run win over England here.
India took precisely seven sessions to create the world record in terms of the largest Test win by runs, while also registering their first-ever victory over England at home and overall their sixth in 39 Tests, here at the DY Patil Stadium.
Harmanpreet, who made her Test debut in 2014, led India for the first time in the format in this game.
"Our coach helped us a lot, I had zero experience in leading the team in Test," Harmanpreet told the media after the massive win.
"I was trusting his (Muzumdar's) decisions — be it sending Shubha (Satheesh) at one-down in the first innings or whatever ideas he gave in bowling, like the first 40 minutes were important today, the idea was to put them (England) in early and utilise the morning conditions," she said.
"His experience really helped us and it also gave me time to decide what was the best for the team," Harmanpreet added.
India executed all plans
She said India were able to execute all their plans and set the tone with their fielding, which proved decisive for the hosts as they now prepare to take on Australia in another one-off Test next week.
"Everything went according to the plan. We got the score that we wanted and the bowlers did a good job, both medium pacers and spinners knew their plans and performed accordingly," she said.
"The biggest positive was our fielding, especially in a long game when you have to field for 90 overs (in a day) it is very important to maintain the energy. We managed to set the tone with our fielding,” Harmanpreet added.
She said that India relied heavily on their batting experience in the first innings to formulate bowling and fielding plans, which saw England being shot out for 136 and 131 in the two innings.
"We do not have much experience playing Test cricket to determine what sort of field placements can help where. The more you bat, the more you would understand what fields to set for your bowlers," Harmanpreet said.
"The credit (also) goes to the bowlers, whatever fields they were given they bowled according to that. Your job becomes easier when your bowlers can bowl in the right spots," she added.
Harmanpreet praises debutant Shubha
Harmanpreet praised India debutant Shubha for her 69-run knock in the first innings while again mentioning Muzumdar's role in it.
"Shubha gave us a very good start — that was also our coach's decision, during the practice game at the NCA, he saw her batting and taking the game ahead," she said.
"He said, 'if we can send her at one-down she can give us a solid start' and she did it the way we were expecting from her," Harmanpreet added.
No change in India approach against Australia
The India skipper said there would be no change in India's approach in the one-off Test against Australia from December 21-24 at the Wankhede Stadium next week.
"The wicket (at Wankhede) is a little different to this one. We have two to three days to train and see how the pitch is and accordingly we can take the decisions. But we will go with the same approach — we will look to win," she said.
Harmanpreet heaped praise on bowling coach Troy Cooley, saying that Indian bowlers have a lot of trust on the former Australia and England men's team coach.
"Whenever we get an opportunity to work with him, he motivates us always, especially the bowlers, which areas to bowl and their line and lengths," Harmanpreet said.
"The bowlers also trust him and his decisions. Whatever decisions he is taking for them, they are trusting him and they are able to execute the plans he is making for them," she added.
"You need a person you can trust — especially a coach — and they are trusting his ideas and plans," Harmanpreet said.
India got a taste of what Test cricket is all about, says Muzumdar
Indian women’s cricket team head coach Amol Muzumdar said his side had got a taste of “what Test cricket is all about” after crushing England by a massive 347 runs in the one-off four-day match here.
Muzumdar was delighted with the effort of his players, and said he wants the team to continue in the same vein against Australia in the one-off Test starting December 21 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
“Absolutely brilliant stuff for the two-and-a-half days. No Test match is easy but the efforts that the girls put in, getting together 5-6 days before the Test at Wankhede and the preparation was nice to result into this win,” Muzumdar, a domestic stalwart, said after the comprehensive win.
“We had thought that we’d play in a certain fashion and I’d want them to continue to do that (score like that on the first day). We didn’t plan to score 400 on the first day. It’s a good sign for Indian cricket, all of them who made their debut.
“It’s the confidence they carry because England is a strong side. They (India) just got a taste of what Test cricket is all about.” He was effusive in his praise of Deepti Sharma, who earned the player-of-the-match award for her 67 in the first innings and a match haul of 9 for 39.
“I jokingly call Deepti (Sharma) ‘Stokesy’ (Ben Stokes’ nickname). Nine wickets and a fifty, she’s an important cog in the wheel and it’s important for her confidence.
“We have back-to-back Test matches for the first time and we’re looking forward to the Australia series as well,” Muzumdar said.
Deepti was proud of her effort and said the wicket at the DY Patil Stadium here offered a lot of assistance to the spinners.
“Feels very good because we were waiting for the Test to start. It’s a proud feeling and we bowled according to plan. We were quite calm batting on the first day, trying to build partnerships, that’s it,” she said.
“I was just waiting to bowl and keeping myself warmed up, got a lot of help from the wicket and I backed myself. Harry di (skipper Harmanpreet Kaur) was saying ‘bowl in your areas and the turn will help you’. We want to continue this in the next Test.”
