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England suffered a heartbreaking seven-wicket defeat to Australia in the final of the ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup at Lord’s, but less than a week later England got a chance to write new headlines at the ‘Home of Cricket’.
Women spectators were banned from the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the Pavilion at Lord’s until March 1999 – now, just under 30 years later, Nat Syver-Brant is set to walk down those famous steps and lead her team for the first ever women’s Test match at cricket’s most iconic venue against India.
So – who is playing? What are England’s chances? And – more importantly – why did it take so long? We answer all your questions ahead of the weekend’s historic Test match…
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Highlights from Women’s T20 World Cup final at Lord’s, where Australia beat England by seven wickets to win seventh title
Why is this test historic?
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England’s Nat Syver-Brant became emotional after losing the T20 final to Australia at Lord’s.
The Test comes exactly 50 years after Rachel Hayhoe Flint led her side in the first England Women’s match at Lord’s and represents a significant step forward in prioritizing the women’s game.
Since the inaugural Women’s Ashes in 1934, England have played 55 Tests at 19 venues across the country – including Kia Oval many times – but never at Lord’s.
In June 2023, the Independent Commission for Cricket issued a report blaming the “truly appalling” lack of women’s Test matches at Lord’s – three years later, that report appears to have led to a change of attitude from the MCC, as England’s women will take center stage in north-west London, 142 years after the men’s first Test match.
“This is a historic Test match for us as a group and for the Indian team,” insisted England coach Charlotte Edwards.
“We can’t wait to play in front of a lot of people for four days.”
What is England’s record against India in Tests?
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England’s Charlie Dean admits Australia were too good for England in the T20 World Cup final
The last time England beat India in a Test match, you have to go back to 1995, when their only win in 15 tries was in Jamshedpur which England won by just two runs.
They have recorded three losses and 11 draws in their other competitions, most recently at the receiving end of a heavy defeat to India in December 2023, losing by 347 runs after being bowled out for 136 and 131 runs in their respective innings.
England last played India at home in 2021, recording a draw after a heroic 80 not out after India star Sneh Rana scored 231 in their second innings and had to follow on in their first innings. The visitors, however, are unbeaten in nine Tests on British soil, recording two wins and seven draws.
who is playing
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Charlotte Edwards has reflected on the ‘difficult decision’ not to select Tammy Beaumont in England’s T20 World Cup squad, but insists there is still more to come in her international career.
Despite England’s impressive T20 World Cup campaign, Charlotte Edwards has made changes for her side’s first long format game of the summer.
Tammy Beaumont – who is among England’s all-time highest 20 Test run scorers with 612 – returns to the squad after being left out of the World Cup squad, but there is no place in the squad for white-ball vice-captain Charlie Dean.
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Tilly Curtin-Coleman discusses navigating dyslexia alongside a career in cricket
It is understood that Dean’s workload is being managed due to a back injury sustained over the winter, while Freya Kemp and Danny Gibson are also being rested as all three recover from their T20 World Cup campaign.
Behind Sciver-Brunt is a group of players with a wide range of experience – Somerset’s Heather Knight looking to play in her 15th Test, Surrey pair Alice Capsey and Tilly Curtin-Coleman and Durham’s Maddie Villiers hoping to make their Test debuts.
How do I look?
Watch the first-ever Women’s Test at Lord’s between England and India Sky Sports Cricket From 10am on Friday (11am first ball), coverage continues daily on the same channel until Monday 13 July. Stream cricket now and more best sports deals for free.
