In an insightful dialog with Natasha Cherriath, the youngest captain to steer the UAE Ladies’s Cricket Group, we discover her outstanding journey, the challenges of management, and her hopes for the way forward for ladies’s cricket within the UAE.
Natasha, a trailblazer for girls’s cricket within the area, started her journey on the age of 4 with a plastic cricket bat and rapidly rose by the ranks, changing into captain at simply 12. In the present day, she is a outstanding determine in UAE cricket and a task mannequin for younger women aspiring to observe in her footsteps. Natasha’s journey from enjoying with a plastic bat at dwelling to captaining the UAE Ladies’s Cricket Group is an inspiring story of ardour, perseverance, and breaking limitations. She stays an emblem of hope for the way forward for ladies’s cricket within the UAE and past, encouraging younger women to observe their desires with exhausting work, humility and pleasure.
Listed here are some excerpts from the interview
Q: Are you able to stroll us by your cricketing journey?
Natasha: My cricket journey in all probability started after I was round 4 or 5 years previous after I obtained my first plastic cricket bat from my household. In our small room, we created our personal little recreation if I hit the ball and it touched the ground, it was a 4, and if it hit the ceiling, it was a six. That’s how I first discovered the sport. I owe loads to my household for that as a result of I used to be at all times surrounded by cricket rising up. My dad, my uncles, and I might watch each cricket match, particularly each time India was enjoying. Throughout each World Cup, we’d keep up whatever the time zone.
That’s how I first obtained into cricket—it was enjoyable for me. At some point, my dad and mom thought, “How about getting her some correct teaching?” This was again within the UAE, round 2004 or 2005, and at the moment, ladies enjoying cricket wasn’t actually frequent, particularly on this a part of the world. That’s after I met my first coach, Shazad Alaf, to whom I owe loads of my cricketing profession. He needed to get particular permission from the Sharjah Cricket Board simply so I might play cricket with the boys as a result of there weren’t any women enjoying again then.
I bear in mind the primary time he handed me a wood bat, it felt actually heavy. However in my thoughts, I believed, “I must work tougher to carry this.” We have been at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, and so they tossed me a number of balls, and it simply felt wonderful. It felt like this was one thing I used to be meant to do, and by chance, I had sufficient expertise to again me up. From there, issues progressed. They organized an inter-school event only for women, and we had fairly a little bit of curiosity. That’s once they introduced in Smitha Hari Krishna, an ex-Indian cricketer, together with Prila However, who skilled and coached us.
Quickly after, we had our first-ever UAE ladies’s cricket camp, the place we went by a sequence of drills and classes. Up till that time, I had solely performed inter-school cricket and had no expertise enjoying at an expert degree. It was all enjoyable, but additionally thrilling to consider the potential for representing my nation, particularly as a young person. That’s one thing most individuals solely dream of. The UAE ladies’s workforce was ultimately shaped, and to my shock, I used to be named captain on the age of 12! It was fairly a shock, contemplating I used to be the youngest, and there have been gamers a lot older than me. But it surely felt good to be trusted with such accountability at that age. I’ve at all times cherished the sport, and I believe that zeal helped me deal with the stress that got here with it.
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Q: What was it like main the UAE ladies’s cricket workforce at such a younger age?
Natasha: It was loads of deep breaths and moments of telling myself, “Okay, I can do that.” However I believe what made it simpler was the folks I had round me whether or not it was my teammates or our vice-captain on the time, Mina Shanker. Apparently, her daughter was additionally enjoying on the workforce. Smitha Harikrishna and Purnima Rau, together with others, actually made me really feel snug and supported.
At that time, I used to be nonetheless studying fundamental subject positions. Regardless that I had watched loads of cricket, it was totally different being on the sphere and really having to direct gamers telling a fielder at level to maneuver somewhat in, for instance. The primary event was extra about producing recreation consciousness for me as a result of we have been nonetheless discovering our toes. We obtained thrown into competitors in opposition to groups like Bangladesh, who have been an affiliate nation on the time. I bear in mind one match the place we have been bowled out for simply 9 runs, an embarrassing defeat. That was an enormous shock for us, however the resilience my workforce confirmed throughout that point was what made it simpler for me.
It could’ve been simple to say, “I shouldn’t do that anymore,” or for the board to consider altering the captain. However all of us knew we have been within the early phases of improvement, and the primary expectation was that we conduct ourselves correctly, representing the nation. It was loads to soak up, however I believe that interval of my life formed who I’m immediately. I used to be thrown into failure and defeat straight away, and I at all times inform those that when you haven’t confronted failure but, it’s coming, and it’ll educate you numerous. That’s the one approach you really be taught. Since then, we’ve solely improved, and after I have a look at UAE ladies’s cricket immediately, I’m pleased with how far we’ve come. It’s been an ideal journey.
Q: Who have been your function fashions rising up, and the way did they form your journey?
Natasha: Rising up, I had three cricketers who actually impressed me. It began with Rahul Dravid. To this present day, whilst a coach, I nonetheless look as much as him. He did wonders with the Underneath-19 workforce and continues to take action, particularly now with a World Cup below his belt. Then there was Glenn McGrath. I believed he was a phenomenal bowler as a result of, whereas he wasn’t the tempo assault, his line and size have been key. He was dependable, everytime you wanted him, he’d bowl in the identical spot for your complete Take a look at match. I actually admired that consistency as a bowler.
As I grew older, after all, the best, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, got here into the image, and he’s been an inspiration ever since.
Then, after I lastly obtained to observe ladies’s cricket on TV, I actually seemed as much as Ellyse Perry. Plenty of women admire her, and I personally do too. She has set the bar in so some ways. I used to be fortunate sufficient to satisfy and prepare together with her when the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder got here all the way down to Abu Dhabi throughout the WBBL. We had a coaching session with them and seeing her work ethic was unimaginable. To offer you an instance, after a two-and-a-half to three-hour coaching session in the summertime warmth of Dubai, everybody was leaving, however she stayed behind doing shuttle runs, nearly like a yo-yo timing check. She’s completely wonderful.
Q: What recommendation would you give to younger women aiming for a cricket profession?
Natasha: Effectively, initially, I might say that irrespective of how gifted you might be, there’s at all times room for enchancment and studying. By no means cease studying. That may be my first piece of recommendation. I believe it’s simple to get caught up in the concept that expertise alone will take you far, however expertise can solely get you up to now. It’s a must to work exhausting each single day. With all of the sources obtainable now, like watching movies on YouTube and following the routines of prime cricketers, there’s at all times one thing to be taught and enhance upon.
Second, I’d say at all times keep humble, it doesn’t matter what you obtain. Cricket is a workforce sport, and it’s necessary to keep in mind that you’re by no means alone on the sphere. It’s not nearly you; it’s about your complete workforce working collectively. Staying grounded is admittedly key.
Lastly, simply benefit from the recreation. If I had the possibility to play cricket any time of the day, I might completely take it. Typically we get caught up within the stress, whether or not it’s scoring runs, taking wickets, or hitting sure milestones, however on the finish of the day, the love for the sport ought to at all times come first. Having fun with what you do is crucial. These can be my three key items of recommendation.
Q: Who was the hardest bowler you’ve confronted in your profession?
Natasha: I did face Julan go Swami at one level in my life uh for one over and it was probably the most knocking over of my life uh as a result of I used to be simply informed to simply keep don’t get out no matter you do don’t get out um, so I believe dealing with her within the Nets uh positively uh was you understand one thing that was troublesome.
Q: What are your predictions for the Ladies’s T20 World Cup 2024?
Natasha: I do assume that the semi-finalist will in all probability be the massive 4 uh however you by no means know with the shock coming in uh I do see Australia, India, England um the fourth place is a toggle between South Africa and West Indies um I believe that’s uh one thing that I don’t I can’t see in the intervening time it simply is dependent upon how they play within the event um and the successful workforce as a result of I do have a mushy spot for Australia I believe it could be Australia however I’m additionally hoping that India wins the World Cup this time as a result of they’ve a very good workforce.
Q: Who do you assume would be the participant of the event within the WT20 WC 2024?
Natasha: I don’t know why however I’ve a sense it’s going to be uh Jemimah Rodrigues from India I okay have a sense that that is her event she’s going to click on by some means and uh going to soak up there all the way in which.
Right here’s the complete interview:
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This text was first printed at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Occasions firm.
