India vs England: All you need to know about historic Lord's Women's Test
India and England will make history by playing the first-ever women's Test at Lord's, with Harmanpreet Kaur's side eyeing only their second Test win over England despite the absence of injured opener Pratika Rawal.
When India and England walk out at Lord's on Friday, they will do much more than contest a one-off Test. The two sides will script history by featuring in the first-ever women's Test at the iconic venue, often referred to as the Home of Cricket.
Exactly 50 years after Rachael Heyhoe Flint led England Women onto the Lord's outfield for the first time, the ground will finally stage a women's Test, marking another significant milestone in the growth of the women's game. More than 30,000 tickets have already been sold, underlining the growing popularity of women's cricket.
The build-up, however, has not been without setbacks. India suffered a major blow after opener Pratika Rawal was ruled out of the landmark Test with a knee injury sustained during the recent India A tour of England. Head coach Amol Muzumdar revealed that Rawal required stitches after suffering a cut to her knee while fielding in Taunton.
The Women's Selection Committee has drafted in Priya Punia as her replacement. The experienced top-order batter, who impressed with successive half-centuries for India A in England, is in line for her maiden Test appearance.
The occasion carries added significance for India, who will be aiming to register only their third-ever Test victory over England.
Their first came at Bristol in 2006 under Mithali Raj, while the most recent meeting between the two sides ended in a memorable 347-run victory at the DY Patil Stadium in December 2023. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, India will hope to continue their resurgence in the longest format after also defeating Australia in Perth earlier this year.
HISTORIC OCCASION DOUBLES AS BEAUMONT'S FAREWELL
The Lord's Test will also bring the curtain down on the international career of England opener Tammy Beaumont, who has announced she will retire after the four-day contest. One of England's finest batters, Beaumont has represented her country for 17 years and has been a cornerstone of their batting line-up across formats.
Her farewell at Lord's adds another emotional layer to an already historic occasion, with England hoping to give one of their modern greats a fitting send-off on the grandest stage.
Beaumont bows out with an extraordinary legacy. Since making her international debut in 2009, the 35-year-old has played 260 matches for England and is the country's leading women's ODI century-maker with 12 hundreds, while scoring 14 international centuries across all formats.
She was named Player of the Tournament after finishing as the leading run-scorer in England's victorious 2017 Women's World Cup campaign and became the first England woman to score a Test double-century with a record 208 against Australia in the 2023 Ashes.
She is also one of only two England women to have registered international centuries in all three formats, making her one of the most accomplished batters of her generation.
IN-FORM TEAMS EYE ANOTHER LANDMARK
England enter the contest under the leadership of Nat Sciver-Brunt with a squad that blends experience and youth. The hosts have named a formidable pace attack spearheaded by Lauren Bell, while Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone will shoulder the spin responsibilities.
India, meanwhile, boast a settled batting unit featuring captain Harmanpreet Kaur alongside Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues, with Priya Punia now providing additional batting cover following Rawal's injury.
The visitors' bowling will once again revolve around experienced left-arm spinner Deepti Sharma, whose performances in recent Tests have underlined India's growing confidence in red-ball cricket.
Having defeated both England and Australia in their previous two Tests, India will believe they have the firepower to challenge the hosts in English conditions.
LORD'S SET FOR ANOTHER CHAPTER
Few venues in world cricket possess the aura of Lord's. While the ground has hosted countless iconic men's Tests and women's white-ball internationals, the absence of a women's Test had remained a glaring omission until now.
Conditions are expected to favour seamers early before easing out for batting, making the toss and patience at the crease crucial.
Beyond the result, the four-day contest promises to leave a lasting legacy. Whether it is India's pursuit of another famous overseas Test victory, England's bid to honour Beaumont with a winning farewell, or simply the fact that Lord's will host its first women's Test, the match represents another giant leap for women's cricket.
India vs England Head-to-Head
India and England have played 15 Women's Tests since 1986. India have won three matches, while England have won one. The remaining 11 matches ended in no result.
How’s a Women’s Test different from a Men’s Test
In men's Tests, matches are played over five days, with 90 overs scheduled each day. The follow-on target is 200 runs. Women's Tests are played over four days, with 100 overs scheduled each day, and the follow-on target is 150 runs. Only two five-day Women's Tests have been played so far.
The first five-day Women’s Test took place in 1992 when Lyn Larsen’s Australia beat Helen Plimmer’s England by an innings and 85 runs at the North Sydney Oval.
The other Test took place in 2023 when Alyssa Healy’s Australia beat Heather Knight’s England by 89 runs at the Trent Bridge in Nottingham.
India vs England Women’s Test squads
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Priya Punia, Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia, Nandini Sharma, Harleen Deol, Renuka Singh Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, Sneh Raha
England: Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Grace Potts, Ellie Threlkeld, Mady Villiers, Issy Wong
When to watch India vs England Women’s Test?
The India vs England Women’s Test will begin at 3:30 PM IST and 11 AM local time.
Where to watch India vs England Women’s Test?
Star Sports Network has the broadcasting rights for the India vs England Women’s Test. Live Streaming of the match will be available on JioHotstar.
When India and England walk out at Lord's on Friday, they will do much more than contest a one-off Test. The two sides will script history by featuring in the first-ever women's Test at the iconic venue, often referred to as the Home of Cricket.
Exactly 50 years after Rachael Heyhoe Flint led England Women onto the Lord's outfield for the first time, the ground will finally stage a women's Test, marking another significant milestone in the growth of the women's game. More than 30,000 tickets have already been sold, underlining the growing popularity of women's cricket.
The build-up, however, has not been without setbacks. India suffered a major blow after opener Pratika Rawal was ruled out of the landmark Test with a knee injury sustained during the recent India A tour of England. Head coach Amol Muzumdar revealed that Rawal required stitches after suffering a cut to her knee while fielding in Taunton.
The Women's Selection Committee has drafted in Priya Punia as her replacement. The experienced top-order batter, who impressed with successive half-centuries for India A in England, is in line for her maiden Test appearance.
The occasion carries added significance for India, who will be aiming to register only their third-ever Test victory over England.
Their first came at Bristol in 2006 under Mithali Raj, while the most recent meeting between the two sides ended in a memorable 347-run victory at the DY Patil Stadium in December 2023. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, India will hope to continue their resurgence in the longest format after also defeating Australia in Perth earlier this year.
HISTORIC OCCASION DOUBLES AS BEAUMONT'S FAREWELL
The Lord's Test will also bring the curtain down on the international career of England opener Tammy Beaumont, who has announced she will retire after the four-day contest. One of England's finest batters, Beaumont has represented her country for 17 years and has been a cornerstone of their batting line-up across formats.
Her farewell at Lord's adds another emotional layer to an already historic occasion, with England hoping to give one of their modern greats a fitting send-off on the grandest stage.
Beaumont bows out with an extraordinary legacy. Since making her international debut in 2009, the 35-year-old has played 260 matches for England and is the country's leading women's ODI century-maker with 12 hundreds, while scoring 14 international centuries across all formats.
She was named Player of the Tournament after finishing as the leading run-scorer in England's victorious 2017 Women's World Cup campaign and became the first England woman to score a Test double-century with a record 208 against Australia in the 2023 Ashes.
She is also one of only two England women to have registered international centuries in all three formats, making her one of the most accomplished batters of her generation.
IN-FORM TEAMS EYE ANOTHER LANDMARK
England enter the contest under the leadership of Nat Sciver-Brunt with a squad that blends experience and youth. The hosts have named a formidable pace attack spearheaded by Lauren Bell, while Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone will shoulder the spin responsibilities.
India, meanwhile, boast a settled batting unit featuring captain Harmanpreet Kaur alongside Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues, with Priya Punia now providing additional batting cover following Rawal's injury.
The visitors' bowling will once again revolve around experienced left-arm spinner Deepti Sharma, whose performances in recent Tests have underlined India's growing confidence in red-ball cricket.
Having defeated both England and Australia in their previous two Tests, India will believe they have the firepower to challenge the hosts in English conditions.
LORD'S SET FOR ANOTHER CHAPTER
Few venues in world cricket possess the aura of Lord's. While the ground has hosted countless iconic men's Tests and women's white-ball internationals, the absence of a women's Test had remained a glaring omission until now.
Conditions are expected to favour seamers early before easing out for batting, making the toss and patience at the crease crucial.
Beyond the result, the four-day contest promises to leave a lasting legacy. Whether it is India's pursuit of another famous overseas Test victory, England's bid to honour Beaumont with a winning farewell, or simply the fact that Lord's will host its first women's Test, the match represents another giant leap for women's cricket.
India vs England Head-to-Head
India and England have played 15 Women's Tests since 1986. India have won three matches, while England have won one. The remaining 11 matches ended in no result.
How’s a Women’s Test different from a Men’s Test
In men's Tests, matches are played over five days, with 90 overs scheduled each day. The follow-on target is 200 runs. Women's Tests are played over four days, with 100 overs scheduled each day, and the follow-on target is 150 runs. Only two five-day Women's Tests have been played so far.
The first five-day Women’s Test took place in 1992 when Lyn Larsen’s Australia beat Helen Plimmer’s England by an innings and 85 runs at the North Sydney Oval.
The other Test took place in 2023 when Alyssa Healy’s Australia beat Heather Knight’s England by 89 runs at the Trent Bridge in Nottingham.
India vs England Women’s Test squads
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Priya Punia, Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia, Nandini Sharma, Harleen Deol, Renuka Singh Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, Sneh Raha
England: Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Grace Potts, Ellie Threlkeld, Mady Villiers, Issy Wong
When to watch India vs England Women’s Test?
The India vs England Women’s Test will begin at 3:30 PM IST and 11 AM local time.
Where to watch India vs England Women’s Test?
Star Sports Network has the broadcasting rights for the India vs England Women’s Test. Live Streaming of the match will be available on JioHotstar.
