Lord’s first Women’s Test match will be played between India and England starting today. For 142 years, only Men’s Test matches have been played at Lord’s. For the first time, this ground will host a Women’s Test match. This will be the 153rd Test match in Women’s cricket. The England women’s team has played 55 Test matches on 19 grounds across the country since 1937. Lord’s will become the 20th ground to be included in this list. 4-Day Test, Minimum 100 Overs Each Day The match will start at 3:30 PM Indian Standard Time. Women’s Tests are played for 4 days. At least 100 overs will be bowled each day. 15 Tests Played, 11 Drawn 15 Tests have been played between India and England Women. Of these, India has won 3 and England has won 1 match. While 11 matches have been drawn. The last match between the two was played in Navi Mumbai in December 2023. Then India defeated England by 347 runs. India has not lost a Test against England since 1995. In the 9 Tests played between the two teams in England, India has never lost. The last time the two teams faced each other in England was in June 2021. This Test played in Bristol was a draw. India has won three of their last four Tests against England. India selected Harleen and Sri Charani for the Test team for the first time India has included Harleen Deol, spinner N. Sri Charani, and pacer Nandini Sharma in the Test team for the first time. Meanwhile, Pratika Rawal will not be able to play this match due to a knee injury. In batting, the responsibility will rest on Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and captain Harmanpreet. While Renuka Singh, Kranti Gaud, and Nandini Sharma will lead the bowling attack. Eyes on Mandhana and Sneh Rana Indian opener Smriti Mandhana will be expected to provide a good start. She has scored 635 runs in 8 Tests at an average of 48.84. In bowling, Sneh Rana is the team’s most experienced spinner. She has taken 24 wickets in 5 Test matches. England’s Tammy Beaumont’s Farewell Test The Lord’s Test against India will be the last international match of England’s experienced batter Tammy Beaumont’s career. Beaumont has announced that she will retire from her 17-year-long international career after this Test. She is the only English woman cricketer to have scored a double century in Test cricket. She played an innings of 208 runs against Australia in 2023. New players get a chance in England team England has given Alice Capsey, wicketkeeper Ellie Threlkeld, Grace Potts, Mady Villiers, and 18-year-old spinner Tilly Cortin-Coleman a place in the Test team for the first time. Meanwhile, off-spinner Charlie Dean has been rested under workload management. A big innings will be expected from Heather Knight. She has scored 970 runs in 14 Tests at an average of 42.17. Left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone has taken the most wickets, with 40 wickets in 9 Tests. 150 Men’s Tests at Lord’s, now the first Women’s Test So far, 150 Men’s Tests have been played at Lord’s. In England, the most 9 Women’s Tests have been held at New Road ground in Worcester. 6 Women’s Tests have been played at The Oval, and 5 each at Taunton and Scarborough. Path opened after 2023 report The decision to host a women’s Test at Lord’s was taken after a 2023 report. In June 2023, the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) stated in its report that the absence of a women’s Test at Lord’s was gender discrimination in the sport. The report described it as an “extremely poor situation”. Following this, steps were taken towards hosting a women’s Test at Lord’s. First Women’s ODI played here in 1976 The first women’s ODI at Lord’s was played between England and Australia on August 4, 1976. England registered an 8-wicket victory in it. At that time, the team’s captain was Rachael Heyhoe Flint. A gate at Lord’s has been named in her honour. In that era, women cricketers played wearing skirts. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) did not grant membership to women. Players were also not allowed to go onto the field through the famous ‘Long Room’ of the pavilion. In that match, England player Megan Lear later said that stepping on the grass at Lord’s was an experience “like landing on the moon” for women cricketers. Both teams are as follows: Indian Women’s Test Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (Vice-captain), Yastika Bhatia (Wicketkeeper), Shri Charan, Harleen Deol, Kranti Gaud, Richa Ghosh (Wicketkeeper), Sneh Rana, Pratika Rawal, Jemimah Rodrigues, Sayali Satghare, Deepti Sharma, Nandini Sharma, Renuka Singh, Shafali Verma. England Women’s Test Squad: Nat Sciver-Brunt (Captain), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Tilly Cortin-Coleman, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Amy Jones (Wicketkeeper), Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Grace Potts, Ellie Threlkeld, Mady Villiers, Issy Wong. Post navigation Zimbabwe win ODI series against Bangladesh:Defeat by 13 runs in second match; Ben Curran scores unbeaten 111 runs
