Ex-skipper Diana Edulji urges BCCI to give women's cricket in India its due after historic win
Former India women captain Diana Edulji has called for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to give women’s cricket in India the recognition they deserve, after the women’s team completed a memorable Test victory against England Women on Saturday, in their first Test match after eight years.
"It is a very, very big victory. I hope it is a wake-up call to BCCI that women can play Test matches, and win Test matches," Edulji told ESPNCricinfo. "Only three of the girls have played a Test before. No country in this world of cricket, men or women, with eight debutants will win a Test against the No. 1 country. England is a very professional side. Most of them have played Test matches. You take their combined XI Test matches against eight debutants… it is a great, great achievement."
At least one Test every series
Edulji feels that the magnificent performance by the women merits them playing a minimum of one Test match in every series and said that this can be made possible by the BCCI cutting down on the number of ODIs and T20s. "I would want one Test match to be played by the Indians for every series, in India and abroad. You don't need to play seven one-dayers and three T20s. You can play a five-match or three-match series [of one-dayers] and one T20, and play a Test match in between.
"A Test is a must. It is mandatory now, I think. BCCI should make ICC put it in the calendar, even if it is just three countries - India, England and Australia. If the other countries do not want to play, fair enough, but when they come to India, they should play a Test. India should force their way in the ICC as they do in men's cricket and have this calendar set that Indian women should play Tests. With this result, it should be a permanent fixture on our calendar."
Media’s role important
India’s leading wicket-taker in Test cricket with 63 wickets to her name, Edulji also underlined the important role that the media has to play in promoting the women’s game in the country and, thereby, encouraging more young girls to take up the sport.
"At least it will shake them up that the girls are getting publicity, the press is involved, the press is looking at everything. Any sport you see, any federation wakes up when the press is at their necks. Then they start functioning properly. This is the problem with India. You see the Commonwealth Games, you see the Asian Games. When the press is there, everybody falls in line. Anything is quoted, so everybody is on their best behaviour.
"It is for the publicity of the game. More girls have to come out to play cricket. Why did badminton pick up so well? Why did athletics pick up so well? It is the publicity they got on television. Why could this match not be televised? Only online scoring was available. I was following the match that way," she concluded.