We focus on mindset, practice in whites to calm nerves: Mithali Raj

BRISTOL: Indian women's Test captain Mithali Raj on Tuesday stressed on the importance of mind-set and revealed that players, especially youngsters, have been practicing here in the whites to calm nerves for the one-off Test against England starting here on Wednesday.

"There were a few sessions that we tried to have in the whites so that the girls don't get sort of jolted when they walk onto the ground tomorrow in the whites because for most of them it was their first time getting into the whites and getting onto the ground," Mithali told the media.

"That is one thing that he [coach Ramesh Powar] tried to get into the sessions -- four-five sessions where we trained together as a team in whites," she said.

The Indian women are playing a Test match for the first time in seven years. The last time they played was in November 2014, when they beat South Africa in Mysore. Three months prior to that, they had beaten England in a Test in Wormsley.

"Clearly from the last Test it has been seven years and seven years have been more of the white ball game and a lot more players in the side have faced [only] the white ball. But again, it comes down to the mind-set," said Mithali.

"Last week or so, we have tried to get as many sessions as we can for the batters and bowlers to face and get used to the red ball and the movement. At the end day, the mind-set with which you play is what matters." IANS

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