We Want To Create History - Caroline Atkins

Caroline Atkins Exclusive Diary - India 2010 - Part One Bangalore

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Caroline Atkins is writing a diary, her third for Cricket World, as England Women tour India.

"No England women’s cricket team has ever won a one day series in India," she writes. "Tomorrow we begin the five match one day series in Bangalore and winning is the reason we’re here. We want to create history.

"Off the pitch the tour has started well. First of all we flew premium economy which was rather nice and then we checked in to a good hotel where the food and facilities are excellent.

"Also staying in the hotel are the England U18 Boys Cricket Squad and none other than Michael Vaughan.

"All is well on the training ground too. We came to Bangalore last winter so we knew the facilities were excellent and we have certainly made the most of them. From day one we have been out on the pitch rapidly adjusting to the heat and the playing surface.

"We were ready for our practice match yesterday, although our warm-up didn’t quite follow normal procedure. Michael Vaughan joined us to share his thoughts on staying at the top. It was awesome to hear from him and experience how he addresses a team.

"I kept imagining I was in a huddle from the 2005 Ashes, it was brilliant. He spoke of desire from individuals driving the team on and being aggressive with what you can control as you don’t always feel your best in the sub-continent. We took the practical tips on board and then we took on India A.

"It was a solid first performance to win the game. We set a target of 274, the highlights were Lydia Greenway’s 81 and Sarah Taylor’s 52.  Also pleasing were the partnerships that came throughout the order.

"My contribution at number six was worth 25 off 32 balls and whilst I was disappointed not to make more runs more quickly, it’s still 25 more runs than I had the night before.  With that time in the middle and 42 overs in the field whilst we bowled them all out, I feel ready for tomorrow. Kathryn Brunt and Laura Marsh were the pick of our bowlers as we bowled India A out for 138.

"Today’s our last day of preparation before the series begins. We reviewed the practice match, used the hotel gym for some light maintenance work, had training in the afternoon and a team meeting before dinner.

"The gym session produced the funniest moment of the day. I was doing medicine ball sit-up, throw and catch with Boggy (Laura Marsh) which is pretty standard, until just after I let go of the ball travelling towards Boggy’s head there was a typical Indian power cut, all the lights went out and I just gasped. Fortunately, our Boggy can also catch in the dark or rather duck the 3kg delivery and fall about laughing like I did.

"Back to cricket and we are good to go, the mood is buzzing and I can’t wait. We will be playing in black arm bands tomorrow out of respect for Audrey Collins OBE who died at the age of 94 having made massive contributions to the development of women’s cricket. She was a brilliant lady and it would be very fitting for us to put in a brilliant performance for her."

Caroline Atkins
© Cricket World 2010

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