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Women's World Cup: Players showed great attitude while fielding, says coach Biju George

George, who works with the Sports Authority of India in Thiruvananthapuram, was not in the original plans for the WWC assignment as he was supposed to go to South Africa with the India men’s ‘A’ team.

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Indian women's cricket team fielding coach Biju George (right) with wicket-keeper Sushma Verma in Mumbai recently
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If there's one man who deserves credit for the improvement in fielding standards of Indian women’s cricket team that finished runners-up in the ICC Women’s World Cup last month, it is Biju George.

The 51-year-old George, who works with the Sports Authority of India in Thiruvananthapuram, was not in the original plans for the WWC assignment as he was supposed to go to South Africa with the India men’s ‘A’ team.

But, having been part of the women’s team, he did not regret missing the South Africa sojourn.

“I felt better working with the women’s team. It was like a family,” George told DNA from Thiruvananthapuram. “Blessed with a son, I have a feeling (of) why I did not have a daughter.”

George, who has worked with Kolkata Knight Riders, India U-19 and Kuwait team before, had to alter his style to work with the women.

“The challenges were more in my mind. I had to adjust myself and be careful in giving throwdowns. I generate almost 140kmph round-arm. I had to slow down my speed. The fielding drills had to be adjusted,” George said.

George, who is in constant touch with Indian men’s fielding coach and his good friend R Sridhar, believed that “anything that men do, the women team will do with a little bit of (more) intensity”.

“They will never say no. They showed great attitude, especially Jhulan (Goswami). She would be the first in and last out (for fielding sessions),” he said.

George thinks cricket, at any level, is the same but how he makes it interesting for the players is what counts.

“We used to write numbers on the ball, they have to call out the number on the top of the ball. That way, they keep their eyes on the ball till reaching their hands. These small things make a big difference,” George said.

Vertically challenged, the Indian women did not let short height come in the way of their fielding. George said the women could make up for the short height by packing more power in their arms. “Size (height) is directly proportional to the reach, and reach is directly proportional to the catches,” George said.

“Look at the height of the girls. On one occasion, our dressing room was exchanged with South Africa. Their (SA’s) debriefing sheet was still on the board when we went there. Their game plan was ‘how to tackle the dwarf bowlers of India’.

GEORGE’S PICKS

Best fielder in Indian team

“Deepti Sharma is the best fielder in the team. She is not just very agile, she is a very good reader of the game. Next will be Punam Raut. Mithali is also a very good fielder, she does not drop a catch.”

Best fielding moment of the World Cup
“Harmanpreet Kaur effecting direct run out. Her pick up and hitting the stumps while turning (against England in the first match) off her own bowling was brilliant.”

 

 ​“In limited-overs, the better fielders will be manning the outer. Our better fielders are Punam Raut and Deepti Sharma. If the fielder is taller, that will make a big difference. We have to work with what we have got. These girls will come through,” he said.

George was proud with the way his fielders performed in the World Cup, even being sure of the statistics.

“India had more run outs, more catches and more stumpings than any other team in the World Cup,” he proudly said.

Not that it was perfect, though. “Catches were dropped in Leicester and Derby,” George said. “Both these grounds had cross winds. I am not defending the players. Secondly, catches dropped were sitters. It was more of a mental thing.

“If you look at the final, England were a better fielding side. But, we had just two misfields. One by Smriti (Mandhana) and another by Shikha (Pandey). We did not have a dropped catch. England had almost four misfields and three dropped catches including one by wicketkeeper.

“Almost all the other teams were physically superior to India, their reaction times were quicker, they could move faster and cover more areas,” he added.

George said the way forward for Indian women cricketers is to become stronger to make up for their height. He has a plan for the women during the off-season, and they know it.

“In the off-season, we should work on fielding along with fitness so that when they come straight to the season, they are ready. Physically, the girls have to be stronger. Strength directly translates to power and speed,” he said.

George saw a bright future for Indian women’s cricket. But he said it would be a challenge for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to involve more girls in the game.

“Indian women’s cricket is on the cusp. In the next three-four years, with more and more girls coming through, girls who go for basketball, volleyball will find cricket more attractive. Challenge for BCCI is to have 100 quality women players who are good enough like any (men’s) first-class players.

“Harmanpreet (Kaur) and Mithali can play in any men’s team. But who else? That’s the challenge. If we can get the women players play with, say, Kerala U-19, U-23 and senior men’s teams, their standard will improve,” George said.

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