Jhulan looks ahead

Sat, May 17 01:00 AM

The 24-year-old had the world at her feet when she became the first Indian to be named the ICC Woman Cricketer of the Year after beating stiff competition from Australia's Lisa Stahlekar and England's Claire Taylor. This came after she became the first Indian to take 10 wickets in a Test.

Jhulan's latest milestone though has gone unnoticed in the midst of the Indian Premier League. The fastest bowler in women's cricket made a quiet touch down in Chennai on Wednesday, along with the Asia Cup-winning team.

Jhulan added to her list of burgeoning achievements during the tournament by becoming the second Indian and fourth in the world to bag 100 wickets in one-dayers when she had Deepika Rasangika of Sri Lanka caught off the penultimate ball of the innings in Kurunegala last Friday. "I knew I would reach the milestone Jhulan during the Asia Cup.

That match was inconsequential as both teams had reached the final and I was still one short as the Sri Lanka innings was drawing to a close. So I thought I would have to wait for the final.

But then I got it with one ball to spare in the innings," Jhulan, who is employed by Air India, told Hindustan Times. "I was very excited, especially because I had my teammate Neetu David, who had already achieved the milestone.

The support I got from everyone was amazing. Like my achievements in Test cricket, this is also very close to my heart," said Jhulan.

The lanky seamer did not want to compare her 10 wickets in a Test to her latest feat. "Test cricket is different.

It is the ultimate for every cricketer. Taking wickets in Tests is obviously special.

But one-dayers are different and the challenge too is different. The margin of error in limited-over matches is very little and bowlers have to be disciplined," she said.

But Jhulan does not want to rest on these achievements. "Now that you have got there, it's over," she said.

"I am looking forward to the series against England in August," she said.

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