The more Tests we play, the more we’ll get used to the conditions: Smriti Mandhana

While all the excitement was surrounding the build-up to the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and New Zealand, India Women certainly stole the show with their performance in the four-day Test against England in Bristol. Although the home team posted 396 in their first innings, the visitors hit back with a good opening stand of 167 led by Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, who was playing her first Test.

India, though, couldn’t capitalise on the good start as they lost their way in the middle, losing five wickets for just 20 runs. India eventfully were all out for 231 and England enforced the follow-on on day three. Mandhana, who scored 67 in the first innings, felt the team will learn and evolve with experience.

The southpaw added that the team has predominately played the shorter formats more where they have batted a maximum of 50 overs. The team is playing a Test match after a gap of seven years.

“Definitely, a slight pressure of ending the day ‘not out’, might have played a part (in the loss of wickets in a heap) and that will come with experience,” Mandhana said after rain forced early stumps on day three.

“The more we play Test matches, the more we’ll get used to conditions one over before lunch or one over before the day’s end and all those sessions, so we can be more mature about (approaching them) and not take the pressure.” She said, as reported by Times of India.

Smriti Mandhana blames herself for India’s collapse in the first innings against England

India might be still ruing over the fact that they failed to cash in on the good platform set by Verma and Mandhana. But rather than blaming the other senior players like Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Punam Raut, the southpaw took the accountability and stated she could have batted a bit better.

“I gave away my wicket though it was not such great a ball. I am disappointed,” she added. At the end of day three’s play, India still trail by 82 runs with nine wickets in hand. Verma is unbeaten on 55 with Deepti Sharma giving her company.