Esha Oza: We've Elevated Our Game Since the Last Asia Cup.
The UAE women's cricket team may have fallen to Sri Lanka in the semi-finals of the Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024, but the tournament showcased their promising future.
Two years ago, their sole victory in the Asia Cup was against Malaysia. However, as they prepare to face favourites India and Pakistan starting July 19 (Friday), they are in a much stronger position. Over the past two years, the UAE team has undergone a remarkable transformation, now capable of not only competing with but also defeating top-tier teams.
Central to this resurgence is their captain, Esha Oza.
“I'm really looking forward to playing against bigger nations. Last time, we had our first opportunity to play at the Asia Cup against India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and other top Asian teams, and we learnt a lot from it,” Oza shared in an exclusive interview with Cricket.com.
“After those games, we elevated our performance because they helped us identify our weaknesses and how to address them. Tournaments like these show us our current standing and highlight the areas we need to improve, which will further enhance our game.”
Oza has been in exceptional form with the bat recently. She is currently the leading WT20I run-scorer this year, amassing 438 runs at an average of 54.75 and a strike rate of 121.32. In fact, since the beginning of 2023, only Hayley Matthews (1,013) has scored more runs than the UAE skipper (936) in WT20Is.
"Being an all-rounder gives you an advantage as captain because you can influence the game with both bat and ball," the 26-year-old said.
"I think you learn to read the game through both a batter's and a bowler's perspective, which is crucial. If you can anticipate what the bowler or batter is trying to do, it helps you plan against the opposition more effectively. Captaincy is something I enjoy.
"It's not something that puts pressure on me. There are times when the team is under pressure, but those moments are about encouraging and motivating the team, doing your best, and leading by example. Captaincy keeps me more focused and involved in the game, which has improved my contributions to the team."
Oza is one of only two players to have scored three centuries in WT20Is. In recent years, she has worked on her power-hitting. Until 2021, her strike rate was 100.43, but since 2022, her aggressive approach has been evident, with an improved strike rate of 117.59 and an average of 34.27.
This was particularly showcased at the T20 World Cup Qualifier at home earlier this year, where the Mumbai-born all-rounder scored runs at a strike rate of 142.10, the best after Scotland’s Alisa Lister (143.66) among batters with at least 50 runs in the tournament.
Her deliberate effort to improve her strike rate reflects the direction in which women's cricket is heading. Oza emphasized that having more power hitters is now essential.
"With the bat, the women's game is progressing, and scores are getting higher. We're seeing many more high-scoring games than before, and T20 cricket is gaining popularity in many nations. So, power-hitting has become crucial," she explained.
"I'm really pleased with my performance in the Global Qualifiers. Scoring and hitting big against higher-ranked sides gives you confidence and belief that you can do it against even tougher opponents. It's something I've been working on for the past few years."
Oza made her debut for Mumbai in the 2019/20 Inter State Women’s T20 competition, scoring 94 runs. However, her performance in the 50-over format was even better — she accumulated 323 runs at an average of 21.53, including two fifties.
During this period, she had the opportunity to play alongside notable players like Jemimah Rodrigues, which significantly contributed to her development as a cricketer.
"My stint in India did help me improve further. But even before I went there, it was something I was really trying to work on and implement in my games as well, still trying to better it. But I was happy I was able to do it in the Qualifier," she said.
The upcoming Asia Cup could be UAE's toughest challenge yet, marking a full circle for the team, whose upward trajectory began in the same tournament a few years ago. In 2022, we saw Thailand surprise everyone by defeating Pakistan and making it to the semi-finals. Will UAE's campaign this year take a similar turn ?
0 Comments