Jhulan ‘Gossy’ Goswami fondly recollects her battles with Sarah Taylor

Of England's two debutants, the then 17-year-old bubbly and fun loving cricketer, Sarah Taylor, who was standing at short extra cover, gently teased her India opponent and off field friend Jhulan Goswami, saying, “Gossy, you have batted enough. Now you can get out”.

Eight years later, Taylor, who had become England’s first-choice wicket-keeper, again poked Goswami in what would be the latest Test match between the two nations at Wormsley. This time Taylor’s voice came from behind the stumps, “I think your time is out. Gossy, you may go. You have scored runs.”

The conversation between one of the best bowlers and one of the finest wicket-keepers in the world has always remained healthy.

“We always had this kind of relation. She calls me Gossy. Whenever I had bowled a good delivery, she looked at me and smiled. Whenever I got her out, she used to give me this bad look — ‘Why I got her out on my ball’. She has been a very tough competitor on field. We always respected each other, enjoyed each other's game. It was always fun playing against her,” Goswami told Women’s CricZone following the shocking news of Taylor's retirement at the age of 30.

 

Congratulations @Sarah_Taylor30 on a great career! Wishing you the best for your second innings. 👍🏽 pic.twitter.com/T13AUHIzfW

— Jhulan Goswami (@JhulanG10) September 28, 2019

 

Behind that smiling face, Taylor was struggling with anxiety. In May 2016, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that Taylor was taking an indefinite break from cricket, having decided to take some personal time away from the game. Her absence from the international circuit ruled her out of the contention to become Charlotte Edwards’ successor and eventually Heather Knight took charge as the team’s leader.

Despite ECB staff working to manage her mental health over the last three years, Taylor’s anxiety affected her ability to enjoy the game and as such to focus on her health, the two-time ICC Women’s World Cup champion — 2009 and 2017 — hung up her gloves.

“This has been a tough decision but I know it’s the right one, for me and for my health moving forward," she said in a statement. "I cannot thank my teammates enough, both past and present, and the ECB for being supporters and friends along my journey. Playing for England and getting to wear the shirt for so long has been a dream come true and I have been blessed with so many great moments throughout my career. I leave with my head held high and with excitement for what my future holds and what my next chapter brings."

The wicketkeeper-batter finished with 6533 international runs that places her second on England’s all-time list of run-scorers, behind her former captain Edwards. Taylor’s style of keeping fetched her 232 dismissals, including 104 stumping, in 226 appearances. She was part of England side that won the ICC Women’s World T20 in 2009 and three Ashes.

Goswami admitted that she - much like the rest of the world - was surprised by Taylor's decision.

"But it is her call. As a co-player, opponent player or friend, I respect her decision,” the fast bowler said. “She is one of the finest wicket-keepers that women's cricket ever produced. It (taking break) is really tough for a person but the way she made a comeback and performed… hats off to her courage.”

“I think she is much better now. My best wishes are with her. Taking care of full health is very much important. I think she is fine at this moment... She is absolutely fine. After comeback she performed really well for England.”

Taylor’s advocacy on mental health led to start of a discussion at different levels and across cricketing boards. It helped her teammate Kate Cross also open up about her struggles. The former England wicketkeeper-batter holds a diploma in life coaching, which she completed in November last year. She also co-founded a mental-health charity, Awesome Minds, earlier this year.

Taylor was one of England's finest batters and most successful wicket-keepers ever. © Getty Images

 

Goswami highlighted that one needs good surrounding and people to provide right direction as individual performance, team performance and expectations can put a lot of pressure on an athlete.

"Sometimes these things can happen but if you have good people around they might help you. If mentally you are not in the right place then you cannot focus properly on field. You need clear mind. That's very much important.”

The veteran India spearhead expressed her desire to play alongside Taylor in Women’s full-fledged IPL. Having played for Trailblazers in the recent Women’s T20 Challenge, Goswami said if Taylor continues to play in league tournaments then she would love to have the former England wicketkeeper-batter on her side.

“We have played for different teams (in league matches) but, unfortunately, never got a chance to play together for any team. If she continues in league tournaments and in future if we have full-fledged IPL and she is participating at the time I am playing then definitely I would love to play with her. Her inputs behind the stumps would be very valuable. We never got an opportunity but in future who knows we get to play,” Goswami concluded.