Driving well with the full face of the bat, Hemlata Kala has shored up many an innings for India. When she first comes to the wicket she prefers to get her eye in by playing the ball into the gaps and rotating the strike. However, once set, Kala unveils a dazzling array of strokes. Unafraid to use her feet to the spinners, Kala likes to dominate the bowling. Built powerfully, she has the ability to hit the ball a long way and more often than not ends up scoring at a brisk pace. She is one of India's senior members of the squad picked to tour Ireland and England in July and August. She made her debut in 1999 against England and although she was dropped for the tour of New Zealand and Australia in 2006 she is now back and is hoping to make a bang. Although a little slow in the field, Kala possesses a safe pair of hands, and she plays her domestic cricket for North Central Railway. Anand Vasu July 2006