Heather Knight's Indian Diary II

9 March 2010

Three One-Day International’s after I joined up with the squad the series finished three-two to India, a disappointing result on our front but credit to the Indians who played a lot of good cricket throughout.

 

In the last ODI with India already having secured the series, I was given my first cap along with spinner Danielle Wyatt. It was a great feeling when I found out. I kept saying to myself ‘I’m playing for England tomorrow, oh my god!’ It was great to make my debut with someone in the same position, especially Dani who I’ve come through the England Academy system with and have known for a while.

 

Everyone’s been asking me how I felt before the match. There were a few pre-match nerves floating about, but apart from that I was more excited to pull on that shirt and get out there. I’m not the best watcher of cricket and much prefer to be in amongst the action, so couldn’t wait to get stuck in. What a feeling to run out in that England shirt! The whole team were really pumped up to get a win, to finish the series three-two rather than four-one, and of course to take some much needed momentum into the three match Twenty20 series.

 

We fielded first and got of to an ideal start following some accurate bowling from Nic (Nicola Shaw) and Nunny (Katherine Brunt) to have India reeling at 26-4. Their middle order dragged them back into the game and we did well towards the end to limit them to 206 for nine off their 50 overs - a target we felt confident chasing on a hard pitch with a lightning outfield. The air quality here in Mumbai isn’t the best - after about 30 overs we all started to develop a cough and strained breathing and by the end of the 50 overs I was finding it really hard to breathe normally. I found it tough as it’s something I’ve never really experienced before on or off a cricket pitch – it really made me appreciate the air quality back home in the UK.

 

I opened the batting with Ebz (Ebony Rainford-Brent) who is fairly chilled out at the crease; she helped me to relax a bit and play my natural game. I tried to go out and bat like I would in any game, but obviously it was a bit different! I’d been hitting a good ball in the nets and had got used to the Indian pitches, so I went into the innings with some confidence.

 

I got of to a solid start and felt I batted relatively well for 49 (yes a jug avoidance fine has been enforced) although it was a shame to fall one short of a 50 on debut. The middle order batted well to keep the scoreboard ticking and with the run rate up to about seven an over, the two Dani’s (Wyatt and Hazel) came together. They ran brilliantly and hit some great shots, capped off by Wyatt hitting the winning runs, to see us over the line with one ball remaining. It was an exciting, close finish, but great to get that win for the team.