England and India Set to Make History with First Women’s Test at Lord’s

The first women’s Test match at Lord’s is set to take place this weekend, marking a historic moment nearly 143 years after the ground hosted its first men’s Test in 1884. England Women have played 55 Tests across 19 venues since 1937, making Lord’s their 20th different location for women’s international cricket.

The initiative follows a damning 2023 report from the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC), which described it as “truly appalling” that Lord’s had never staged a women’s Test. The report’s assertion that the “home of cricket is still a home principally for men” appears to have prompted administrative action.

Women’s Tests differ from the men’s game in several key aspects: they are played over four days rather than five, require a minimum of 100 overs bowled per day, and have a follow-on target of 150 runs instead of 200. Only two five-day women’s Tests have been played to date, with the 2023 Ashes Test at Trent Bridge being the most recent, won by Australia by 89 runs.

Turning to recent performances, both teams exited their 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup group stages differently. India failed to advance after defeats to Australia and South Africa, while England lost the final to Australia at Lord’s. Neither side competed in a Test in 2025, with England’s last Test preceding this fixture occurring at Trent Bridge in 2023, and India’s most recent Test being a 10-wicket victory over South Africa in Chennai in 2024.

India hold the psychological advantage in the head-to-head record, having won the previous women’s Test meeting in December 2023 by 347 runs in Navi Mumbai. India have won three of their last four Tests against England, though those fixtures date back to 2006. Notably, India have not lost a Test to England since 1995 and remain unbeaten in their nine Tests played in England (two wins, seven draws).

The squads feature significant changes from their T20 World Cup lineups, with eight players making their Test debuts in both teams. India’s additions include opener Harleen Deol, left-arm spinner N Shree Charani, and fast bowler Nandani Sharma, who debuted shortly before the T20 World Cup. England’s maiden Test callers include batter Alice Capsey, wicketkeeper Eleanor Threlkeld, seamer Grace Potts, and 18-year-old left-arm spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman.

Beyond the newcomers, attention falls on England’s Lauren Filer and Issy Wong, both quick bowlers who were overlooked for the T20 World Cup squad. For India, the selection challenge includes whether Pratika Rawal, a key performer in last year’s ODI World Cup victory, can earn a spot in the starting XI, while the team must choose two from spinner Renuka Singh, seamer Kranti Gaud, and all-rounder Nandani Sharma.

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