Former Indian Women’s team coach WV Raman says playing more Tests in a calendar year will help women cricketers become fitter and test them in every respect for tougher competitions.
Indian women’s team are all set to play a one-off Test match against England next month which will mark the women’s team playing the Test match after seven years.
However, it is also learned that the Mithali Raj-led side will play more matches when they tour Australia later this year for a full series that includes a day-night Test in September-October.
Indian women's team to play a Test match against Australia after England
Talking to ESPNCricinfo, former Indian women’s team coach WV Raman said that playing more Test cricket will help the Indian team gain rich praises across the globe.
"What it (playing more Tests) does is that it gives them (women cricketers) the opportunities to play the hardest format of the game and once they start doing well, they will be hailed even more than they are today," WV Raman said in an interview with ESPNCricinfo
Raman remarked that playing Test cricket will help Indian women become better in terms of match fitness and once they used to it they will start enjoying it.
"If they play regularly, that also gives them opportunities and tests them in every respect. The other thing is, it also helps them become better in terms of match fitness because playing hard cricket for four or five days is going to be tough if you're not used to it. Once they start getting used to it, I'm sure they will also start enjoying it," he said.
WV Raman further pointed out that not more than three or four top cricket-playing countries could afford more Test matches for women given the ‘commercial side of it’.
"How many boards can sustain is my question. Maybe the top three-four can because it does take a lot of money as well. Let's not forget the commercial side of it. Even if three-four boards are interested in making the girls play Test cricket, it is fine, and we must try and give them back," he concluded.
WV Raman writes to Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid about 'smear campaign' against him
The Women’s team is currently with Men’s team in Mumbai for their two-week hard quarantine ahead of their UK tour.
The Indian women’s team recently got a new coach in former India off-spinner Ramesh Powar for the UK tour. The retired Indian cricketer took over from WV Raman as the coach of the women’s team.
(ESPNCricinfo inputs)
