INTERVIEW: Gary Stead before the warm up match against India

What is your focus for today’s match?

We are using this as our last opportunity to see who is in the best form ahead of the first match v Australia and to try and consolidate our game plans and become better at executing them.

Nic Browne will get another run today as she comes back form a layoff with an ankle injury (she didn’t play any of the matches in Australia).  We will take the opportunity to rest a couple of players today who have had a little bit of the flu so everyone is fit and well head of Friday’s match.

The Indians will offer something different - is that a challenge?

Yes, it is.  They have more left arm spinners so playing them well with be important in the match as this is an area that we have struggled with in the last few matches.

How are the conditions at Taunton?

We are looking forward to getting onto the Somerset County Ground for the first match on Friday where I am sure the wickets will be faster and have more bounce but it is good to get outside even though the weather is very wintry.  The Australia v India match yesterday that was to be played following our match was abandoned so the Indians will get their first run today – they could struggle in the cold!!

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