Edwards is a proven run-getter in Indian conditions

The loss of five of the original squad to work or study commitments and the continuing absence of opener Charlotte Edwards following knee surgery means that Harmer's England debut will be very tough.

"Charlotte's injury is a massive blow. She also missed last season but she's back having nets so we're hopeful she'll be fit for next summer's Tests and limited overs matches against New Zealand and India."

Of the remaining five absentees, all-rounders Sarah Collyer and Kathryn Leng may be the most sorely missed but Harmer isn't frustrated by the enforced changes.

Short on experience

"Women who play sport have to re-organise their lives a lot more than men to meet the demands of the lifestyle and that's especially so with English women's cricket.

"Far fewer women play the game here than in Australia. For instance in Melbourne, there's a whole league, whereas in major English cities, you're lucky to have one team."

The withdrawals provide an opportunity to experiment and the squad mirrors that of their male counterparts in its mix of youth and experience.

Winning the World Cup was Harmer's best moment

Opening bowler Clare Taylor and wicket-keeper Jane Cassar have 163 caps between them, while skipper Clare Connor and Lucy Pearson (the only female to win a Vodaphone Player of the Year award) boast 57 and 35 appearances respectively.

Counterbalancing this is the presence of four new faces in the 14-woman squad.

"The senior girls are important for developing the culture of the team and must take on the mantle of nurturing the rest, particularly those for whom the size and passion of an Indian crowd - which can top 20,000 - will be a new experience," says Harmer.

The girls have not played competitively for several months and there are only two practice games in the schedule before the first one-day game in Madras on 6 January, so there will be little time to acclimatise.

Spin potential

Harmer's approach is what one might term 'optimistically realistic'.

He said: "India's women will be strong on their own pitches, so any victories we register will be a bonus, but with one Test and four limited overs internationals I think we can pick up at least one victory.

Harmer has been in charge since July

"We're sharper in the field than India and, while their quartet of spinners are a real worry, I believe that in 19-year-old spinners Helen Wardlow and Sarah Clarke, we possess two tremendous young prospects.

"Sarah flights the ball beautifully, though she probably bowls it too fast, while Helen has a really nice action and turns it a lot. She really could be world-class and is as good an off-spinner as I've seen in women's cricket."

Although the ECB want Harmer to remain in post at least until after the next World Cup, in South Africa in 2005, he prefers to see how the side develops over the next two years before making any firm commitments.

A pioneer of, and lecturer in, Bio-mechanics - the study of the efficiency of human movement - Harmer has a second successful cricket career to which he can turn.

For now, however, improving the England women's team is the sole focus of his attention.

And while, in the absence of key players, he is perhaps being asked to perform with one hand tied behind his back, as Duncan Fletcher's men recently demonstrated, the most satisfying achievements sometimes come against all the odds.