Picture Credit: BCCI
Indian opener Smriti Mandhana said that lack of experience in negotiating the closing stages of a session was a major reason behind the batting collapse India suffered on the second day of the one-off Test against England Women. Mandhana reckons that more opportunities to play Tests can help cultivate a better understanding regarding approaching the closing stages of each session in a day's play.
"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," said Mandhana.
"The more we play Test matches, the more we'll get used to the 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. We aren't used to batting beyond 50 overs. But I wouldn't say I got out because of lack of experience in Test matches because I threw my wicket away in the last session," stated Mandhana.
Mandhana impressed with Shafali's "amazing" batting approach
Mandhana said the conditions were still good for batting and with talented batter Shafali Verma going strong, her side was in a good position. Mandhana is "impressed" with teen sensation Shafali Verma’s "amazing" approach in both the innings. "Shafali and Deepti stitched a good partnership at the end, so I think at the end we were in a good position. I think the condition changed slightly but it wasn't swinging that much and it wasn't playable or something. The conditions are still good to bat on," added Mandhana.