ENG-W vs IND-W: Only Test – England and India Women start a new cricketing chapter

India and England women teams are set to face each other in a one-off Test at Bristol from June 16-19 in what will be the Indian team’s first red-ball game in the last seven years. The last time Indian women wore the whites was in August 2014, also a one-off Test in Wormsley against England, where a spirited team of the visitors won the contest by 6 wickets.

The Wormsley Test was India’s first in eight years (they played England in 2006 and went on to win the two-match series 1-0). For a team that has been so deprived of action in the longest format, Mithali Raj and Co. will be keen to grab this chance. More so as the team is set to play Australia later this year in their first-ever day-night Test.

England women, on the other hand, remain to be one of the most active teams in the women’s Test circuit, having played 95 Tests in their history and 23 of them since 2001. They last faced Australia during the Women’s Ashes clash in Sydney in 2017, where the two teams played a draw and would be wanting to utilize the home advantage against India.

After the one-off Test, both teams will lock horns in three ODIs to be played from June 27 to July 3, to be played in Bristol, Taunton and Worcester. The ODIs will be followed by three T20Is, from July 9 to 15, in Northampton, Hove, and Chelmsford.

Team News

England

Heather Knight will be leading the squad, while Natalie Sciver has been named her deputy. England had named a 17-member squad for the series, with 17-year-old pacer Emily Arlott receiving her maiden call-up. However, pacer Freya Davies and bowling all-rounder Sarah Glenn have been released to participate in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.

India

Mithali Raj has been retained as captain of the Test and ODI squads while Shikha Pandey and Taniya Bhatia have been recalled for the tour. Harmanpreet Kaur will play the role of Mithali’s deputy. Jhulan Goswami, the 38-yar old pace bowler, shall lead the bowling attack. It remains to be seen whether the swashbuckling 17-year old hitter Shafali Verma gets an opportunity or not.

Match Info

Match: IND-W vs ENG-W only Test

Dates: 16th June 2021 to 19th June 2021

Time: 3.30 PM IST

Venue: Bristol

Telecast: Sony Sports Network