India Women vs England Women Test: Women’s Test is rarity and when it comes to India Women’s Cricket Team, it is one of those cricket matches that is special. Consider this, former India captain Mithali Raj whose career spanned over two decades could only play 12 Tests. But now, it’s time for the next-gen with more focus on women’s games. With a fiery leader in Harmanpreet Kaur, Team India in whites will aim to deny an away win to England Women’s Cricket Team which is playing their 100th Test. The IND-W vs ENG-W one-off Test will begin at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.
IND vs ENG Women Test: A rarity
The one-off Test match isn’t about bragging rights, it is about righting wrongs. The richest cricket board in the world (read BCCI) can only arrange a Women’s Test match in nine years. That tells you how rare that is. And in those nine years, India Women’s Cricket Team has only played two Tests, both ending in draws – one against England in 2021 at Bristol and another against Australia in Carrara in the same year.
The last time, the women wore whites at home, they ended up winning by an innings and 34 runs in Mysuru against South Africa.
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But both of India’s last two Tests sparked an uproar for a fifth day in women’s Test. Unlike men, women’s Test is only a four-day affair. However, both of these Tests could have ended up in India’s favour, that too away, had there been a fifth day.
While the debate rages on, Team India will look to start a new chapter, without the two stalwarts Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami. Both of them have retired from the game. And now, it’s up to the likes of Shafali Verma and Renuka Thakur to keep the battle going for a five-day women’s Test. Both will take the field in the India Women vs England Women Test on Thursday.
100th Test for England
England on the contrary, have more recent Test experience, although not the amount of Tests the men play. However, it’s been a while since they tasted victory in a Test, with their last win coming in against Australia in 2014. It’s the same opponent who trumped them in the last Ashes. However, with England set to play a record 100th Test, they will aim to end their jinx against India in the India Women vs England Women Test.
Out of the 14 meetings between India and England Women, only three resulted in a win. England won by two runs in Jamshedpur in 1995, while India triumphed in Taunton in 2006 and Wormsley in 2014.
IND-W vs ENG-W Team News:
India have bolstered their spin attack for the upcoming Test by including left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque, who made her T20I debut against England. Among the new faces is Karnataka’s Shubha Satheesh, who made a strong impression during the senior team’s camp in Bangalore. In the batting lineup, Jemimah Rodrigues and Harleen Deol are likely to make appearances, adding depth to the team. Renuka Singh Thakur, recognized for her T20I performances, makes a return as a seamer.
On the England side, Emma Lamb has been withdrawn due to injury, and batters Maia Bouchier and Kirstie Gordon have been brought into the squad. England faces the challenge of deciding who partners with Beaumont. Dunkley is an option, given her experience in the role in white-ball cricket, and this could potentially lead to a Test debut for Capsey. The other focal point is the second seamer position, with competition between Lauren Filer, known for her raw pace in the Ashes, and Lauren Bell.
IND-W vs ENG-W Test Squad
India Women: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Sneh Rana, Shubha Satheesh, Harleen Deol, Saika Ishaque, Renuka Singh, Titas Sadhu, Meghna Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Pooja Vastrakar.
England Women: Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Bess Heath (wk), Amy Jones (wk), Heather Knight (c), Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danielle Wyatt.
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