On a landmark day for the women’s game, the number 336 assumed historic significance at Lord’s.
Sophie Ecclestone required patience to leave her mark on the inaugural women’s Test at the Home of Cricket, but the moment arrived in the 73rd over when she dismissed Sayali Satghare. The wicket propelled the left-arm spinner past Katherine Sciver-Brunt’s tally of 335, establishing Ecclestone as England’s leading wicket-taker across all three international formats.
Figures of three for 68 also elevated the 27-year-old to third on the all-time list across all nations, trailing only India’s Deepti Sharma—her opponent in this fixture—and the legendary Jhulan Goswami. Ecclestone’s spell was instrumental in restricting India to 285, though England’s reply stumbled early with the loss of Tammy Beaumont, leaving the hosts on 21 for one at the close.
Yet the occasion transcended statistics. The England and Wales Cricket Board seized the opportunity to honor the trailblazers of the amateur era—women who excelled long before they were permitted MCC membership, let alone the prospect of competing on the hallowed turf in whites.
Luminaries such as Enid Bakewell, recognized by Wisden in 2014 as one of the greatest women’s cricketers of all time, and World Cup-winning seamer Anya Shrubsole were present. Their emotional ringing of the bell on the outfield before play commenced served as a poignant acknowledgement of a recognition many felt was overdue, though no less profound for the delay.
“This morning was really wholesome,” World Cup winner Alex Hartley told BBC Test Match Special after participating in the celebrations. “It was so lovely to see all the past players. It was a beautiful day and it’s great for the ECB to recognise those players who paved the way.”
It was fitting that Ecclestone, a teenage prodigy who has known only a professional environment, should seize the headlines. The metronomic precision of her left-arm spin has become a staple of the modern attack, making it easy to overlook that she is still only 27.
Alongside Sharma, merely 28, the pair appear locked in a compelling race to become the first woman to claim 400 international wickets across formats.
“It’s pretty special, it’s been a big 10 years,” Ecclestone, who debuted in 2016, told BBC Test Match Special. “I would’ve never dreamt of anything like this. I’ve got no words, just buzzing it happened. Walking out of the Long Room with the ex-players there—yeah, once in a lifetime day.”
