19 February - Gqeberha - India Fielding Coach Subhadeep Ghosh pre-match press conference
[Reporter]
After yesterday's match, what was the team environment like? Where did you think it went wrong? What kind of conversations happened after that?
[Subhadeep Ghosh]
I think yesterday's match was a very good match. I think both the sides played well. I think Renuka was special. I think she took five wickets and one partnership they needed. I think that night they deserved one partnership, so they got it. I think 150 was chaseable, definitely, and we were in the game throughout the 20 overs. I think Smriti played well. One partnership was with Richa and Smriti was there. We were in the game till the 20th over. I think one or two sixes would have been a different story, yeah.
[Reporter]
Also, what are the kind of things that you as a fielding coach are working on? Because Smriti is playing, but we have seen her, you know, safeguarded in pockets where the ball doesn't come often, but she still took a catch.
[Subhadeep Ghosh]
Yeah, she took good catches in the last two matches here. I think this area, I think we are focusing on the cutting angles - It's big ground, but the positioning is very important where the players need to stand and cut those angles, saving tools and important boundaries also. These are the constant chat we have in the dressing room and in the meeting, all those things are happening. And they're getting better, definitely they're getting better. Yesterday, they were special. I think Richa was a very good- took that brilliant catch and everybody was spot on in the last matches.
[Reporter]
Since you mentioned Richa, we have seen the kind of special practices you do with Richa and Yastika and even Deepti, the three of them in the slip. Could you throw some light upon what specific things that you work on?
[Subhadeep Ghosh]
I think we started with Richa; we started long back. I think it's a long process and she is, her work ethic is terrific. I think every session she will come, she and Deepti will be coming and have some easy catches, maybe 30-40 catches. And specifically for Richa, we are doing some little bit of glove work, all those foot movement also. Every day she is doing all those things.
[Reporter]
I wanted to ask about the Indian spinners. Apart from Deepti, nobody has really stamped their authority or we can say they have been a bit inconsistent in this tournament. So, what are your thoughts about that and what areas should they need to improve going forward?
[Subhadeep Ghosh]
I think nothing much, I think they are bowling well in the last couple of matches they have bowled. There is one match, one or two matches it can happen to the bowlers. I think they are working hard in the practice session when coach Troy is having words in every session and they are getting better, definitely they will get better.
[Reporter]
To continue on Richa, we saw the special glove work drill that she was doing with you and Deepti as well assisting her. So where do you think Richa has improved a lot in wicket keeping but how much can she further improve going forward in her career because she is still very young?
[Subhadeep Ghosh]
Yes, there is always room for improvement for every cricket player and one thing I think keeping in different condition in South Africa is the more carry is there. When she goes to different conditions, maybe skill level will be different. So, she has to adapt and she is working on it and she will definitely adapt to all those things.
[Reporter]
And sir, after the Pakistan game, Jemimah Rodrick’s came and said that India want to become the best fielding site. But still, we are seeing that, you know, a couple of mis fields here and there. So, what do you think, what should they do in terms of not dropping the catch or not giving away those extra boundaries?
[Subhadeep Ghosh]
See, with catches, I think it's a part of cricket games is going to happen. Whoever plays this game is going to happen. This is one area definitely we are constantly working on is taking all those catches and all the special catches. And I think girls are really working hard in practice session. They are giving 100 percent so they get carry in the match. Definitely it's an area of concern. I will not say it's an area of concern, but we're definitely getting better.
[Reporter]
So, I just want to know how long the fielding meetings last.
[Subhadeep Ghosh]
We haven't done the fielding meeting. This is going to happen today.
[Reporter]
For the last session, I saw Troy Cooley during a bowling meeting for at least 20 minutes. Is there something like that?
[Subhadeep Ghosh]
Yeah, yeah. I think before every match or in practice session, we are having a fielding meeting. I think there are hard talks in the team meeting because we believe all those things. I think we are a far better team which we executed in the last matches, last few matches. So, we are working on it definitely and we are getting better.
[Reporter]
From the team, which player leads the fielding meetings?
[Subhadeep Ghosh]
Everyone, everyone. Jamie, Smriti, Harman, everyone is leading the fielding meetings.
[Reporter]
Yesterday we saw someone like Katherine Brunt who is 38 -39 years old have been throwing around on the boundary side. So, and India had struggles fielding in the boundary lines. So, is there something specifically you are working on?
[Subhadeep Ghosh]
Yes, definitely. England fielded well in the last match. I think we also did a couple of good stops on the boundary line also. I am not saying we are behind, but we are definitely catching up with all the international teams. Some other day, I think we are going to be the best fielding side definitely. The girls are working on it and definitely we are going to happen.
[Reporter]
Harmanpreet Kaur's form, I mean, she hasn't really kicked off in this tournament like the way we know Harman can bat. Do you think that is a concern for India in the middle order because of the inconsistency in some of the battles?
[Subhadeep Ghosh]
I don't think so. Harman is a big player. I think she is going to fire in when definitely is going to happen. And then she is working hard definitely. All the batters are spending a lot of time in net session. I think you have seen Jamie playing that fabulous in against Pakistan. Richa is fabulous in all the games. In the last match, I think it was a couple of sixes. It could have been a different story - Smriti as well. I think all the girls in good form and Harman also.
[Reporter]
First of all, all the best for tomorrow's game against Ireland. I wanted to ask what has been the challenges to know that the Indian players are faced while fielding in the stadiums in South Africa?
[Subhadeep Ghosh]
I think that cutting the angles is the most important thing. I think that positioning is important where you stand, where you know exactly where you can stop the double and as well as boundaries. This is the one area we're constantly in touch with the players and also getting better.
[Reporter]
Coach, as you said, the same 150 mark against Pakistan in the opener match. What went wrong yesterday? Do you believe that when top player doesn’t scores, especially Jemima and Shefali, things get more challenging and difficult for India? What's your take on it?
[Subhadeep Ghosh]
I think nothing much. I think we are in the game throughout the last 20 hours. I think Smithy batted well as well as, as I told you, Richa also. I think they bowled well. Definitely, we have to give credit to the English bowlers. So, they kept us in pressure. I think they fielded as well. They didn't give us the boundaries as we like to have those boundaries. I think nothing much. I think maybe a couple of boundaries would have been a different story.
[Reporter]
If you could shed some light on the fitness parameters that are in place. What sort of fitness parameters do our Indian players need to meet? Is there a yo-yo test in place or some other time trials that they usually undertake to better their sprinting or other kinds of aerobic running, etc.?
[Subhadeep Ghosh]
I think as far as fitness is concerned; all the girls are fit. I think they're all doing all the session in batting, bowling, fielding. And if the fitness test that you were talking about, I think Anand would be the ideal person to answer all those things.