Veteran campaigner Mithali Raj on Tuesday (June 1) said the inexperienced Indian women’s squad can gain a lot regarding Test cricket by travelling with the men's team to UK.
During the upcoming England tour, Indian women’s team will play a four-day Test in Bristol from June 16.
The women's squad, which has been under isolation in Mumbai, will be departing for United Kingdom with the men's side for a month-long series on Wednesday (June 2).
"Yes, I am sure the girls have been interacting whenever they cross paths, it is good to have them around because they have played a lot in UK."
"You can ask them questions and they can help out because most of the girls are playing this format for the first time, so it can really help them if they talk to them and gain experience from their tours," Mithali said during a virtual pre-departure press conference.
Apart from the solitary Test, the women's team will feature in three ODIs and as many T20Is.
On the other hand, Virat Kohli and company will play the World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand in Southampton from June 18-22 followed by a five-Test series versus England.
"I think it is great to play a Test, whether at home or away. If it continues then great, because it helps the players. Sometimes it is nice to just go without any baggage and play and enjoy the atmosphere," Mithali said.
"It is good to have girls who are playing for the first time and girls who have played in the past, may be (they can) share some experience about how it was in 2014.
"I guess having two back to back Test matches touring England and Australia can give a lot of exposure to the current lot and if that can be carried forward in the coming years, it will be great for the sport."
Jhulan Goswami will lead India’s pace attack in the one-off Test and Mithali reckons it will help the young pacers in the squad.
"It is important that she gets game, she needs game time there in the middle, as the senior-most player, it is important to keep her in the thick of things but if she needs rest, it is upto her completely," she said.
"But knowing Jhulan she will want to play every game and as a captain also I would want to have her in the field so that the young fast bowlers in the side, they will immensely get a lot of help if they have her on the ground."
The Test kit of Indian women’s team was unveiled recently and Mithali said the event was "an occasion to make players feel special."
"...I feel it is the most challenging, respected and the oldest format. It has its old charm, so for the girls it is a special moment," she said.
"The excitement is there in the group and it is important to have that idea of what Test means for the team and the importance of former cricketers who have kept the sport alive for the future generation."
(With PTI inputs)
