Photo Credit: ICC
Jhulan Goswami is focused on delivering the goods for her team rather than impending personal milestones as India prepare to take on hosts New Zealand in Hamilton.
Goswami is just two wickets away from overtaking Lyn Fullston of Australia as the most prolific wicket-taker at ICC Women’s Cricket World Cups.
The right-arm seamer took two for 26 against Pakistan in India’s opening 107-run win to stretch her tally to 38 wickets across five tournaments since 2005.
“I’m not aware of how many wickets I have, but it is important as a senior member of the side, to go there and perform well, give a good start, give an early breakthrough,” the 39-year-old said.
“That is my job and I want to stick to my role, that is the important thing and if you play a long time, you are going to achieve a few individual milestones.
“That matters, that gives you a lot of joy, but what is important is how you contribute for the team – that’s the most important thing for me and I always believe in that.
“For me, if I’m doing well but my team is not winning, that is not a good thing for me. I enjoy when I contribute and the team wins.
“I enjoy that more and I want to stay strict in that and personal individual milestones don’t matter much to me, because I am absolutely a team player and I always try that.
“I contribute as much as I can and whatever milestones are achieved – I will definitely try to enjoy those.”
India are well-settled in New Zealand having played the White Ferns in a five-match ODI series in Queenstown prior to the tournament starting.
New Zealand came away 4-1 winners but getting the match practice was just as important for India as they look to peak when it matters most against the home side.
Goswami said: “That was our plan – just before the World Cup – to acclimatise with these conditions and these wickets and come back and play fresh in this World Cup.
“Tomorrow’s match is a totally different ball game. It’s a fresh game, and it’s a World Cup game and definitely we’re looking forward to make sure that we do well.”
Both sides are hoping to win back-to-back matches after New Zealand recovered from a shock loss to the West Indies first up to defeat Bangladesh in a rain-affected game.
All-rounder Amy Satterthwaite took three for 25 to restrict Bangladesh to 140 for eight, indicating there is a new lease of life for the 35-year-old at her fourth World Cup.
And with Goswami and India captain Mithali Raj on their fifth and sixth tournaments respectively, there is plenty of inspiration in the opposition when it comes to longevity.
Satterthwaite said: “Another World Cup [for me] is pushing it quite a way out. I think I’ll take it one year at a time.
“But I think they’ve certainly been an inspiration to many to be able to play for as long as they have and I’m sure there’s people out there that have looked at how long they’ve been able to continue to ply their trade and think, ‘I can do it too.’
“It’s a real inspiration what they have achieved so far, and I’m sure they’ll be remembered as some of the greatest players of all time.”
