"I've worked hard," says jubilant Bangalore girl Mamatha Maben. She's thrilled to be one among the 22 selected for the Indian women's cricket team by the Women's Cricket Association of India.

Besides, she's been appointed captain of the south zone women's cricket team as well. "It's always been my dream to play internationally," says the 30-year-old.

In December, the Indian women's squad will be pruned down to a tight 15. And if she wants to make it, she's got to start practising overtime now. Mamatha spends almost six hours everyday on fitness and cricket.

"I go to Lalbagh for step workouts and rock climbing, besides doing weights and cricket practice," she says. Since she spends ten hours at work for www.thatscricket.com as a sports writer, her training has to be all that more intensive. "It's hard work but I want to make it to the final team," she says.

And if she does, January 3 will be the day she's been waiting for all her life. That'll be the day, the Indian team is pitched against the England team which will tour India for five one-day matches and one Test match.

According to Mamatha, the team has what it takes to play hard and win. But it has some basic flaws as well. "Women's cricket is of a higher standard abroad because the culture is very different. Women are encouraged to go outdoors and be independent and aggressive. Here, any woman who joins the game is initially meek and uncomfortable," says Mamatha.

"We lack a scientific approach. Australian or South African teams place great emphasis on biomechanics like diet control and disciplined workouts," she adds. "Here, a woman's sports career is short-lived because of the pressure to marry and start a family."

But the fact that women's cricket isn't taken too seriously here is no surprise. The players have absolutely no incentives-- monetary or otherwise, compared to the men's team. Australia, England and New Zealand now have a common board for men's and women's teams and the incentives are equal.

Although awareness is spreading in India and the men's team is said to be more open to the possibility of a merger, no concrete steps have been taken.

Mamatha is an NMKRV college graduate and is overjoyed to be given the opportunity to lead south zone. She used to play for the railways and Air India. But gave it up because of a lack of exposure. It was only when she played for the state that she was noticed.

"I'm very confident," she says. "If Belinda Clark of the Australian team could win the title of `best sportsperson of the year' against the likes of Steve Waugh, why can't I?" asks Mamatha with her characteristic conviction.

The bottomline for her now is to get even with the world's best women's cricket teams. Mamatha Maben just can't wait to pit her skills against the Australian and New Zealand teams.

By Meghana Mathur

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