After the WPL, 30 cricketers have been selected for an intensive camp in Bengaluru to improve their fitness levels.
Shashank Kishore
Remember Ellyse Perry’s acrobatic save on the boundary to deny India in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup in February?
Here’s one again: As she runs down the ropes from deep square leg, she covers at least 20 yards and throws herself at the ball, pushing it back while it’s in the air. He saved two crucial runs in Australia’s five-run win.
Four months have passed since that heartbreaking day in Cape Town, India. The women’s team is gearing up for a new season that begins with a limited-overs tour to Bangladesh in July, followed by white-ball series against South Africa and New Zealand in September and October. Then England and Australia also tour a full tour that includes Tests either side of the New Year.
Given the amount of cricket coming India’s way, it’s fair to say Perry’s period of athletic brilliance has had a profound impact on his fitness and on-field approach.
In May, the senior women’s selection panel selected 30 “target players” for an intense camp in Bengaluru. The main ones are Athlete Monitoring System (AMS) and Injury Prevention (IP) implementation.
These systems are not new. Teams across the sports landscape have benefited from high-performance environments. It is interesting to note that women’s cricket has been embraced in India since the Women’s Premier League (WPL). With two world events – the 2024 T20 World Cup in Bangladesh and the 2025 ODI World Cup in India – in the next 24 months, the BCCI hopes that steps taken by the team will finally win that trophy.
So, what is AMS?
It’s software that monitors fatigue, sleep, mood, menstrual cycle and non-sporting stressors to reduce injury risks and maximize performance. Helps manage information, workloads, past injuries, rehabilitation cycles, post-injury performance.
Why is women’s cricket important now?
He helped the National Cricket Academy prepare road maps for each player to keep their fitness levels up. For starters, the yo-yo test has been replaced with a one-mile test, a DEXA scan to measure body-fat percentage, vertical jumps, broad jumps, 10- to 20-meter dashes, and several endurance routines.
“We were tough because it was the off season,” explained Vidarbha’s Disha Kasat, one of the greatest domestic T20 run-getters in the last two seasons, who was part of the camp. “From the lifts in the gym, with our running. Even on the field, we were taking 50 balls every session. Everyone’s metrics improved from day one to the end of camp.”
Former Indian captain Jhulan Goswami believes this new approach could be path-breaking. As a bowling coach with Mumbai Indians in the WPL, she had a ring view of these proceedings. She thinks this will help close the gap with Australia’s leaders in the women’s game.
“There is no comparison. [with Australia] On the fitness front,” says Goswami. “They have set a benchmark in women’s cricket and it is a start for us in India to try and aspire to match those standards. Today, gamers realize that skills alone are not enough.
“It can only take you to one level. But to do long-term work and get through your game, fitness is very important. You need that aggressive, aggressive mindset. Your fitness will play a key role in that. Hopefully. Preparations for next year’s T20 World Cup are here It has started.
‘Employing full-time S&C coaches is a turning point’
A critical step in this fitness revolution is the formation of a group of women’s strength and conditioning (S&C) coaches. Anand Date coming on board full time is a game changer. Day has over a decade of experience at S&C, having worked under Rahul Dravid at the NCA and with various men’s India A and age group teams.
Day-to-day responsibilities now include working with several franchise S&Cs and other coaches where the women’s players work to maintain continuity of fitness monitoring.
“Earlier, we didn’t have a full-time S&C coach. They were all appointed in succession. Now having Anand Day full-time has helped push the fitness pedals,” said former India batsman VR. “He used to build fitness metrics when players came back to NCAA or national camps after the break,” Vanita said.
“AMS ensures that the players are not under-trained or over-trained. Each player’s workload is mapped and ensures accountability even if they are not in the NCA. Now even regional teams are adopting this system. The data helps bring everything under one roof.”
“There is no comparison. [with Australia] On the fitness front. They have set the benchmark in women’s cricket and it is only a start for us in India to try and aspire to match those standards. Today, gamers realize that skills alone are not enough. Exercising is essential for long-term performance and to advance your game.Julan GoswamiFormer Indian captain and bowling coach of Mumbai Indians
Workload management is only one aspect. There is also injury prevention, a system that determines by performing a series of tests – on the shoulders, hip flexors and, for example, on the hips – certain indicators are then evaluated to adjust workloads.
“This system determines the damage rate, determines what the player’s fitness level is at any given time,” Vanita said. “It monitors players’ physical condition even before it deteriorates. Basically, it’s a warning for monitoring. It helps to record workloads if there are indicators that they might be injured.”
While fitness was the focus of the camp, the players also worked on skills. They are divided into groups, given special tasks and show a series of matches. They are assisted by experienced net bowlers and side arm specialists.
Mr. Hrshikesh Kanitkar [interim head coach of India Women] He made me work my beat, find my own way to work,” Cassatt explained. Instead of saying, ‘This is all you have to go for,’ he told me, ‘These are your options, see what works for you and find your way out as your ultimate goal.’ The practice sessions were very intense.”
“WPL will bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket”.
Goswami believes the WPL will have a far-reaching impact on the Indian women’s game. “We didn’t have time to prepare for the WPL this year. Teams just went with the flow and picked players by raw numbers,” she said. “Next year, the teams will have an opportunity to prepare, run camps, scout players, draft prospects. That automatically raises local tournaments because the players know there’s an added incentive to get noticed.”
“Earlier, the gap between domestic and international cricket was huge. The players found it too steep and took time to bridge that gap. That’s not going to happen going forward, because there’s a bigger stage now.”
This is where event competitions play a big role. Currently, a high-performance squad consisting of several age-group players and WPL players who participated in India’s Under-19 Women’s World Cup campaign is in Hong Kong to participate in the Asia Cup for Developing Countries. Most of the games were washed out, but the tournament had great potential because it was a previous Women’s A tour before the outbreak.
“Tournaments like the Emerging Nations Cup are good, but India’s level is higher than Sri Lanka, Pakistan or any of the other teams,” says Vanitha. “What we need is exposure to the England, Australia A sides. We also need to broaden our base. While our focus is on the under-19s, we shouldn’t be looking at the 20-23 age group.”
Goswami noted what motivated the players to become part of the franchise system, now that they have seen what the WPL has to offer through opportunity and money. Vanityam has seen players step out of their comfort zones.
“I see some people joining better training centers, more people taking their diet seriously, which is important for the development of athletes,” Vanita said. “Cricketers are going to the top coaches in India. This in itself speaks to the intrinsic motivation for girls to invest in themselves.”
He is an example of someone who goes the extra mile. The Vidarbha captain, who hails from Nagpur, stays in Bengaluru in the off-season to train under a personal coach. Kassat, who played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the WPL, will have access to the training facility arranged by Rajasthan Royals in Talegaon.
“Everything is very easy in Nagpur,” she says. “In Bangalore, everything has a price. The time spent in traffic to get from A to B can be tiring. There’s a sense of purpose. If I have to go to my training ground, which is at least an hour from me. Jim, when I’m on the net, I spend my time effectively. “I have to prove it. You want to get something out of every session. I’ve lived and trained in Bangalore for two years now. It’s not easy, but it’s easy. It’s made me a better cricketer.”
Cassatt got the chance to train with Perry at RCB and observe her work ethic. Her takeaway from this experience is simple: “If she can do it, so can I.”
Shashank Kishore is Senior Sub Editor at ESPNcricinfo.
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