NEWS
Follow UsFormer India all-rounder Hemlata Kala believes feels that the role of opening batter Shafali Verma will be crucial in the upcoming one-off pink-ball Test against Australia at the Carrara Oval. The 17-year-old scored 96 and 63 in her only Test so far, against England, earlier this year.
"Shafali has an important role (to play) and I think she will be successful as she has been in red-ball (cricket) because her game is like that. She has a power-hitting game, so I feel that she will be successful," Kala said at a virtual con-call with select journalists.
Kala, who has played seven Tests for India, also feels that it is important that the other batters also click.
"But along with it, I would like to say that for us along with Shafali, it is important that all batters click in this Test match because everyone has a different technique. I feel Shafali's role is crucial and she will play a very important role in this Pink Ball Test," added the 46-year-old.
Kala, who made her Test debut in 1999 and played her last Test in 2008, also said that the girls should think about performing better than what they did in England. "I feel that the experience of playing a pink-ball test will help them in the future. We should perform better than what we did in the England Test and we should think on those lines," she said.
"I said that the Australia Test is important for us because we are playing after a long (time) and also a new format. Every format is important for us. The 50-over World Cup is coming, so to check the skills, it is good that we play the test match, as temperament is seen in all things.
"We did well in England (and) I feel we will do better with pink-ball. We have good medium pacers Jhulan Goswami, Pooja Vastrakar and Shikha Pandey, and a leg-spinner, I think leg-spinner will be beneficial with pink-ball, I feel as far performance is concerned, it will be improved," she added.
India's tour of Australia will kick start with three ODIs, starting Tuesday (September 21) at the Harrup Park, Mackay. The action will then shift to the pink-ball Test on September 30, followed by three T20Is.
(With inputs from PTI)