India’s Sneh Rana is the most recent nightwatcher (NW), with a successful stint in the December test against Australia. The NW’s job in the morning is to dampen the enthusiasm of bowlers who are fresh and keen to make a good start to the day. Sometimes they can shield the recognised bats slated to follow them from early movement:
The wicket should do a little early on in the morning but if Mandhana and Rana can go through the first hour unscathed, conditions should get better to bat [Dec 2023 Ind v Aus Test match commentator].
Usually, the longer the NW can last, the more the momentum shifts to her team. Sneh did a grand job, lasting for almost an hour, facing 16 overs. She deflated the Australian bowlers and helped to take the score from 98-1 overnight to 140.
[Smriti] Mandhana, who was unbeaten on 43 on the first day, took her time to find boundaries in the morning and looked positive to convert her fifty to a big score. With the nightwatch Sneh Rana, she stitched 50 runs for the second wicket. Rana contributed 9 off 47 deliveries to frustrate the bowlers [Srinidhi Ramanujam ESPNcricinfo Report 22 Dec 2023].
England will not need to be reminded of Sneh’s ability to frustrate bowlers. As a debutant at Bristol in June 2021 she starred in India’s great escape (as Valkerie Baynes put it). She came in with India on 189-6 in their second innings, just 24 runs ahead and with 63 overs still to play. Sneh batted for over three hours, scoring an unbeaten 80.
Sneh won the Player of the Match award against Australia for her all-round show, taking 3-56 and 4-63 in addition to her useful NW knock.
NW who play well in the morning usually have to face some chin music, as bowlers vent their frustration. It was while watching Tumi Sekhukhune battling away against England at Taunton, that I realised I was long overdue to do some research into NW in Women’s Tests – I looked at the men years ago. The note is here
Sneh’s wonderful effort at Bristol in 2021 provided a thrilling finish. Tests between India and England have produced much excitement, including two of the most spectacular finishes in any Test match. There have also been notable NW appearances: one from Shikha Pandey in 2014 which helped turn the tide of India/England Test series (Shikha, incidentally, helped Sneh at Bristol by batting for 70 mins at No. 10). These are covered in the note.
No one should begrudge cricketers the financial opportunities from various franchise 20/20 tournaments across the calendar. The professional sporting life is fragile: injuries can inhibit skills, involve arduous physiotherapy from which the body never really recovers or abruptly bring careers to an end. Bowlers have long been particularly susceptible but, with the standards of fielding now expected in short-form cricket, no-one is immune from joint and tendon injuries. There should still be space in the calendar for Women’s Tests. Fewer are being played now.
Perhaps there will be more Women’s Tests in the future. India’s crushing victories over their leading rivals this winter give hope that the BCCI will become enthusiasts for red-ball cricket.
An Occasional Cricket Statistician 