India Women will take on England in a one-off Test at Bristol. It will be the first Test assignment for India Women after 7 years.
Match Timings: June 16, 3:30 PM IST
Team Preview
India Women will start their England tour with a historical Test in Bristol. It will be a 4-day Test match and both sides will meet in the longer format of cricket after 7 years. India and England met each other in a Test in 2014 and India emerged a winner. India had a terrific record against England in the Test format and they have won two matches against them with just one defeat. 10 matches between two sides ended in a draw. Things have been changed in the last 7 years and India played only white-ball cricket, while England have been part of the Test format during this period as they faced Australia in the Ashes.
The Indian side will be led by Mithali Raj and many Indian players will make their Test debut in Bristol. Mithali Raj has a great experience of the Test and she was part of the winning squad in the previous Test win against England. Shafali Verma might be included in playing XI due to her aggressive approach. She has only played T20 format but selectors picked her in all formats. Harmanpreet and Mandhana’s roles will be crucial for India. Jhulan Goswami, and Shikha Pandey both will lead the pace attack who were also part of India’s Test squad in 2014.
India are unbeaten from the last three matches and they can create a record if they win this Test. If Mithali’s girls win in Bristol, India will break the record for the most consecutive wins in Women's Tests. They have won their previous three Tests, two away Tests against England and one home-Test against South Africa.
England will surely have an advantage ahead of this game because they have maintained their domination in Women’s cricket. They have also played Test matches during this phase when India didn't feature in the longer format. Heather Knight will lead the side and she would look to change India’s record in England. India is the second-best side that hasn’t lost a Test here. England were also beaten by Australia when they last played a home Test. Their previous records in Ashes haven’t been convincing.
Central Sparks seamer Emily Arlott has received her maiden international call-up who claimed a hat-trick in domestic season this year. She might get the Test cap in Bristol. In the last 7 years, they played three Test and 11 players in their current squad have played Test format which is better than India. This game should be a thrilling one and India is the side that can surprise England. Both sides faced each other in 2017’s ODI World Cup and the ODI format regarded as the preparation for the Test in Women’s cricket. If India plays their natural game, they can outclass England.
Pitch Report
Bristol’s surface is a fine Test ground and it will provide good assistance between bat and ball. Chasing in final innings would be tough. The weather should be fine but we might see slow showers because UK’s weather is unpredictable. On a dry surface, spinners can trouble which is a positive thing for India.
Possible XI
India Women
Mithali Raj (C), Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Punam Raut/Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Taniya Bhatia/Indrani Roy (wk), Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar/Arundhati Reddy, Poonam Yadav/Radha Yadav
England Women (main squad)
Heather Knight (C) Emily Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Tash Farrant, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield-Hill
Key Players
India Women
Mithali Raj
A great experience of 10 Tests and a leading run-getter in ODI format which can help her to score big for India
Jhulan Goswami
Bristol’s surface will suit her and she can be a threat for England with the new ball
England Women
Heather Knight
Knight has been a top-performer for England in last couple of years and she can play a sheet-anchor in batting unit
Nat Sciver
Another experienced player in English side and are coming off a decent domestic season
