MCA’s Sawant, Sane set to make scoring Test debut at Wankhede

MCA scorers Sushma Sawant (left) and Kshama Sane

Today's India and New Zealand Test provides a dream-come-true moment for two women scorers - Sushma Sawant and Kshama Sane.

It's also the first time that two Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) women scorers will be officiating in a Wankhede Test. Sawant, 50, a former accountant, was encouraged by her left-arm spinner husband Nitin Sawant, who used to lead PJ Hindu Gymkhana and represent Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers.

Of statistics and numbers

"I never played cricket, but developed interest in this game after my marriage. Nitin taught me how to watch cricket, how batsmen played the ball etc. He then introduced me to scoring. I enjoyed working with statistics and calculating numbers and now it's my passion and profession," Sawant, who started scoring in 2009, told mid-day on Thursday.

Former India pacer and match referee Javagal Srinath and on-field umpires Anil Chaudhari and Nitin Menon had a meeting with Sawant and Sane on Thursday. The duo have done scoring at the first-class level, in the 2013 Women's World Cup and IPL.

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"The Test match format is my favourite and I enjoy scoring in Ranji Trophy games as well," Sawant remarked.

Sane, 45, represented Mumbai at the U-15 level in 1991 as a wicketkeeper-batswoman.

Encouragement came from her mother Shital (passed away in 2002, aged 49), who used to follow Indian women's cricket when Diana Edulji was India captain.

Coach's guidance

"When I was around 10, my mother used to take me to the grounds to watch cricket. At that time, I didn't even think about scoring, but she insisted I follow the game. My coach Surekha Bhandare taught me to play as well as score," Sane recalled.

Although Sane passed the MCA umpiring exam in 1997, she didn't venture into umpiring and continued with her insurance business. In 2006, she got interested in the game again and appeared for a scoring exam, passed it and started scoring in MCA tournaments.

"I had a dream to score in a Test and I thank the BCCI, MCA and my seniors for this opportunity," Sane added.

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