India women likely to play one more Test after the England series
After featuring in a one-off Test match against England, the Indian women’s team is now all set to feature in another Test Down Under in the month of September. If sources are to be believed, India will play a sole Test match and then play ODIs and T20Is ahead of the upcoming ICC 50 Over World Cup which is scheduled to take place in New Zealand next year.
If the Test in Australia goes according to plan, then it will be the first time since 2014 that India will get to play two Tests in the same calendar year. Also, this will be the first time in 15 years after the Adelaide Test in 2006 that India will get to face off Australia in the whites. Overall the two teams have clashed nine times against each other with Australia winning four, while the other five Tests have ended in draws.
The plans are being laid out by BCCI officials and an official statement will soon be out as told to ESPNcricinfo. Women cricketers do not get to play Tests often, as the International Cricket Council (ICC) is keener to expand the T20 format. Only two teams play Test cricket the Ashes rivals England and Australia. Teams like New Zealand and West Indies have not yet played a single Test match.
Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami to feature in the Test
In a refreshing move, BCCI has given the icons of the game such as Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami a chance to add two more Tests to their resume in their already glittering career. ‘MilJhul’ as they are fondly refereed will be eager to get back in whites and finish their short Test career on a high. Mithali and Jhulan have featured in ten Tests thus far, the last of which came in a winning cause against England.
India were not set to tour Australia in September as neither the BCCI nor Cricket Australia (CA) have confirmed the same. Australia’s pace spearhead Megan Schutt spilt the beans on The Cricket Podcast about the series which is slated to take place Down Under. If the proposed tour happens, then it will be good preparation for the Women in Blue ahead of the 50 over World Cup.
