Smithies, a former World Cup winning skipper with England and an OBE winner, is a fan of Indian bowler. She first saw Jhulan at the 2005 Women’s Cricket World Cup.
JOHANNESBURG: When Jhulan Goswami was awaiting for Mahendra Singh Dhoni to announce the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year award, down in Pretoria, Karen Smithies was keeping her fingers crossed.
Smithies, a former World Cup winning skipper with England and an OBE winner, is a fan of the Indian bowler. She first saw Jhulan at the 2005 Women’s Cricket World Cup hosted in South Africa, a tournament in which India finished runners-up to Australia.
“I was impressed when I first saw Jhulan play in the World Cup. It is great that there is a genuine fast bowler from India and that she is probably up there with the top-three in the world with regard to pace,” Smithies told DNA at Centurion on Tuesday.
“I was eager to see who won the award. I am really happy for Jhulan. She has all the credentials to be a great fast bowler and she had had a good year.
She really deserves it. What makes it special is that among all the superstars in India it is heartening to see that a woman has won the award. It will be a great boost for the game,” Smithies, who was a torch-bearer for women’s cricket during her time, said.
Smithies came to India in 1995 and 1997. “I think women’s cricket in India has really progressed since then. Jhulan is a good example. She is confident about herself and the game.
She is tall, has a high-arm action and can really generate a lot of pace. I remember that during the 2005 World Cup she really trouble batsmen (women),” Smithies said.
The former England skipper is also impressed with the fact that players like Jhulan are generating interest in the game.
“When you have someone who can really bowl fast it gets everyone interested. People will come to the stadiums to watch her,” Smithies said. “Is Jhulan still in Johannesburg or has she gone back?” Smithies asked. “I would like to give her a call and congratulate her.”
Woman on top
Jhulan exuded the confidence that it was pleasant to see received the award from Dhoni. Being the only Indian to win an award, definitely gave her a kick.
“It is special to be the only Indian to win this award. And to receive the award from Dhoni has been great,” she said. Jhulan hoped that the award would give women’s cricket a shot in the arm in India.
“Now more and more people are aware of that girls also play cricket. I hope this award spurs other girls also to take up cricket in a big way. I am sure more and more people will come to watch us play,” she said.
For someone who started playing cricket with a tennis ball and was bullied by the boys into fielding most of the time, Jhulan let the ball rip whenever she got a chance to bowl. “I love bowling fast. I had to bowl fast so that the boys would let me play,” she said.
Jhulan took five wickets against England at Tauton last year, an effort that allowed India to win the Test. “I had a great time against England and that series was my most memorable one,” she said.
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