Win is a reward for all our hard work over many years: Harmanpreet Kaur

Spin was always going to be a factor in the one-off Test between Indian women and Australian women. Considering the conditions in the one-off Test against England, the Australian women came prepared with a practise game ahead of the Test at the Wankhede Stadium. But little were they prepared to battle out a bowling unit of this calibre. 

Despite batting first, Australia could only post 219 on the board, a first-innings total that eventually forced them to play catch-up cricket. On the other hand, India never let the foot off the peddle, with a dominant bowling display on day one and some sumptuous batting in the first innings, where they scored 406, which eventually led to an easy eight-wicket win. 

In the post-match presentation, Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur suggested that this win was a reward for all the hard work that the Women in Blue have put in over many years. Harmanpreet also reckoned that playing ‘positive cricket’ is one of the reasons that Richa Ghosh was sent to bat at No.3. 

“Reward for all the hard work we have done for so many years. Credit to the team and the support staff. Reward for the hard work and patience. We just wanted to play positive cricket, and that is why we wanted to put Richa Ghosh at no.3. We did not want to go back to defensive cricket and everyone knows how Richa plays,” Harmanpreet said in the post-match presentation. 

“Our support staff asked me to bowl and I got those two important wickets. [Taking 20 wickets] Our bowling coach is only telling the bowlers about taking wickets, not being defensive. What best we can do, what's the best we can bring to the team. I wanted to thank the BCCI for giving us the opportunity. The selectors have also shown their faith in us,” she added. 

On the other hand, Alyssa Healy commended the experience of playing a Test in India, and stated that the Australian women showed a lot of fight after the first day’s play. 

“What an experience to come and play Test cricket. Not easy and we found out. Two or three more Tests could have been interesting. Except for the first day, we showed a lot of fight. It's the first time we are playing red-ball cricket here, and we are learning on our feet. The girls have adjusted and performed well,” Healy stated. 

However, Healy credited the Indian team for putting on a show, and reckoned that it is the ‘beauty’ of the game to execute your plans on all four days. 

"Their relentlessness with the ball stood out to me. They have grown up playing in these conditions. I think their batting was a lot different to us but they are more comfortable playing shots we haven't grown up playing. We've played on a lot of different wickets back home in Australia," Healy added.

"Their three spinners worked really really well together and made it hard for us. At times it felt like we weren't scoring or the game was stagnating a little bit and we couldn't really throw a punch and get the scoring going again. That probably stood out for me and [Pooja] Vastrakar did a lot of damage with the new ball. That stood out to me."

Interestingly, a lot of limelight was on Pooja Vastrakar’s all-round heroics and Mandhana and Jemimah’s batting, but not enough on all-rounder Sneh Rana. Rana was an influential figure in India, holding out a Test in England, where she picked up 3/56 and 4/63 in the two innings here in Mumbai. It was her bowling display that led to India folding Australia out cheaply. 

“The captain has given me a chance and I have to do well. The catch drops are a part of the game, and that doesn't dishearten me. I try and come back stronger. A Test match in India is happening after a long time, so this win is right at the top. For Indian fans also this win is huge. The players who are growing will see this win and want to play more Test cricket,” Rana said.

“Feels amazing, standing here and receiving this award. And a great Test win. No one was calling me a nightwatchman, because they knew I can bat. First time I was batting with Smriti [Mandhana], felt well. Didn't feel I was a nightwatchman. Have always wanted to take wickets and stand up for my team. “