As the NRMA Insurance Women’s International Series continues in Australia, both the Australian and Indian cricket teams have won one T20I match each so far. With the multi-format series concluding with 1 more T20Is in Adelaide, three ODIs in Brisbane and Hobart and finally Test cricket in Perth, each team has more time to make their mark on the pitch. As India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has said, this cannot be done without the cheering fans in the stands, whose support helps inspire and energize the players.
“As a team, we always want to entertain our fans by playing good cricket and that is our aim to play good cricket here too,” Kaur said. create your box At a press conference in Sydney last week. “and hopefully [we] “By showing good cricket to more young girls, they will be inspired to play cricket,” he said.
As a cricket nation, India’s fans show a level of passion that some argue is unmatched worldwide. Fan sentiment – in India, but also among the Indian diaspora in Australia – has reached a new level since November, when the Indian international women’s team made history by winning their first ICC Women’s World Cup title. This has not only signaled a growing appetite to watch women’s cricket, but also given greater visibility and inspiration (as Kaur acknowledged above) for young brown girls who aspire to pursue the game professionally.
Australia captain Sophie Molineux has said that she is very excited about the Australian team playing in front of huge crowds, especially on home soil.
“Well, they’re both emotional, but in their own ways,” Molineux said. create your box In the same press conference when he was asked how Indian and Australian fans compare. “I think the Indian fans, they are really vocal, they are loud, they are full of emotion,” he said, “and we can be even louder, maybe rougher around the edges.”
” data-medium-file=’ data-large-file=’src=’ alt=’Australian T20 captain Sophie Molineux and India captain Harmanpreet Kaur pose for a photograph during the NRMA Insurance Women’s International Series launch at the Sydney Cricket Ground on February 14. Image Source: Supply – Darian Traynor/Getty Images for Cricket Australia’ class=’wp-image-11376′ srcset=’ 683w, 200w, 768w, 1024w, 1366w, 1200w, 2000w, 3000w” size=”(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px”/>
According to Molineux this is “full preparation for the India series”. “It’s a big tour, and India – they are coming here with a lot of confidence and we know they will pose challenges for us throughout the series,” he said. “And there’s no better way to do that than playing in our own backyard.”
Indian player Jemimah Rodrigues, as well as captain Harmanpreet Kaur, made headlines For her vital role in India’s victory against Australia in the Women’s World Cup last year. When asked at the same press conference whether Australia would specifically target Rodriguez and Kaur during this series, Molineux laughed and said: “To be fair, there’s probably five or six or 12 of them”.
“They are a great team and they are full of confidence,” he told the media. “Jemi and Harman’s innings against us in India, I think – in terms of their team and the history of cricket in India, was a really big game for them. But also, Smriti, Richa Ghosh, there are names there.”
Kaur said that playing against the Australian team is an equally exciting challenge. “We always love playing against Australia because we know how good they are,” he said. “Whenever you play against such a good team, you always want to enjoy your cricket. Our team always enjoys playing against them, so it is always exciting to play here.”
The appearance of both captains at the Sydney press conference came ahead of their first T20I match of the series on 15 February, which India won via DLS method due to rain at the Sydney Cricket Ground. After speaking to the media, he posed for photographs with children to help launch Cricket Australia and UNICEF’s ‘Until Every Child Can Play’ campaign.
“Working with UNICEF and helping give every child the opportunity to play is an incredible partnership. It’s a basic human right in terms of education, nutrition, health care – things that provide all of these opportunities to play and live long and healthy lives,” Molyneux said in a statement.
“Traveling the world, especially going to places that love their cricket, being able to see their culture and there are so many kids out there who would love the opportunity to play cricket, learn and grow. We want to keep creating awareness until every kid can play.”
Libby Hodgson, Chief Marketing Officer, UNICEF Australia, said: “UNICEF Australia is extremely proud to partner with Cricket Australia, which will help us carry out our vital work for the millions of children around the world who cannot make it to the field.
“We know cricket fans are passionate and engaged – and protecting children’s rights will resonate with them, giving fans across the country the opportunity to make real change, so UNICEF can deliver vital programs that ensure every child is safe, healthy and able to experience the joy and potential of the game.”
At the same media conference, Molineux and Kaur were joined by Cricket Australia’s chief commercial, Ed Sanders, who called the series “the next chapter in a blockbuster summer of cricket” that would see “two of cricket’s strongest teams battle it out in an exciting contest”.
“There are compelling games and plenty of highlights to look forward to, as we welcome a new captain in Sophie Molineux and bid farewell to one of the greats of our game, Alyssa Healy,” she told the media.
With the NRMA Insurance Boundary Social launched on the day – giving fans the opportunity to experience boundary viewing across all three T20I matches on a first-come-first-served basis – Julie Batch, chief executive of NRMA Insurance, said in a statement: “The NRMA Insurance Women’s International Series is a defining moment for our Australian women’s team as they continue their pursuit of excellence on the international stage. We are proud to support them during this exciting chapter Is.”
” data-medium-file=’ data-large-file=’src=’ alt=Australian T20 captain Sophie Molineux and India captain Harmanpreet Kaur pose for a photo during the NRMA Insurance Women’s International Series launch at the Sydney Cricket Ground on February 14. Image Source: Supply – Darian Traynor/Getty Images for Cricket Australia’ class=’wp-image-11377′ srcset=’ 1024w, 300w, 768w, 1536w, 2048w, 1200w, 3000w” size=”(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px”/>
Australia won the second T20I at the Manuka Oval in Canberra, and now have another T20I to be played at the Adelaide Oval on 21 February – where there will be an NRMA Insurance Boundary Social for fans to enjoy. After this, three ODIs will be played in Brisbane and Hobart and then Test cricket will be played in Perth. Times and locations are listed below, and more ticket information can be found Here.
NRMA Insurance Australia vs India Multi-Format Series (local time):
t20i
- 15 February: 1st T20, SCG, 7:15 pm
- 19 February: 2nd T20, Manuka Oval, Canberra, 7:15 pm
- 21st February: 3rd T20, Adelaide Oval, 6:45 pm
ODI
- 24 February: 1st ODI, Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 1:50 pm
- 27 February: 2nd ODI, Bellerive Oval, Hobart, 2:50 pm
- March 1: 3rd ODI, Bellerive Oval, Hobart, 2:50 pm
Examination
- March 6-9: Test Match, WACA Ground, 1:20 PM
Top image – Pictured: Sophie Molyneux and Harmanpreet Kaur, Source: Supplied by Cricket Australia/Photo by Darian Traynor, Getty Images for Cricket Australia