After disappointing WC outing, India look to turn the tide at historic Lord’s Test
The early exit from the T20 showcase gave India more time to prepare for the red-ball match being played at the ‘Home of Cricket’, 142 years after the first men’s test was held at the legendary venue.
After playing a Test in Australia in March, the Indian team trained at the beautiful Wormsley Cricket Ground for their second red-ball match this year.
Head coach Amol Mujumdar said the prospect of taking to the field for the first Test at Lord’s had the players excited even before the start of the previous T20 World Cup.
“It boggles my mind that this is the first Test match here at Lords. However, I’m really lucky and I’d like to extend my wishes to everyone involved in this. It’s a great opportunity and we’re looking forward to it,” Muzumdar said.
“It is a dream for any Indian cricketer to play a Test match, let alone play at Lord’s. I’m sure everyone who wears those whites tomorrow will be proud to be there to play a Test match at Lord’s,” the veteran of 171 first-class matches added.
Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Varma had opened India’s previous Test match Down Under and the same is expected to happen against England as well. Priya Punia was included in the squad to replace the injured Pratika Rawal, who batted for three in the 10-wicket loss against Australia. Test matches are rarely held in between in women’s cricket, but India has a positive record against England in the traditional format. India have won three of their last four matches against the home team and are yet to lose in the test in England (two wins, seven draws).
India players who could make their Test debuts include Harleen Deol, in-form spinner Sree Charani and pacer Nandni Sharma.
On the other hand, England have five players who are yet to play Test cricket and they include Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Mady Villiers, Grace Potts and Ellie Threlkel.
Veteran opener Tammy Beaumont decided to retire from international cricket after the Test.
Beaumont is one of only two England women and five England players to score international hundreds in all three formats of the game and became the first England woman to score a double Test century with a memorable 208 at Trent Bridge in the 2023 Women’s Ashes.
“This Test match at Lord’s – our first women’s Test at Lord’s – feels like the perfect opportunity to embark on a career that I never imagined would be as special as I could have imagined,” Beaumont said.
Teams
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Varma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (WK), Nandni Sharma, Harleen Deol, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, Sneh Rana, Priya Punia.
England: Nat Sciver-Brunt (captain), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Grace Potts, Ellie Threlkeld, Mady Villiers, Issy Wong.
The match starts at 3.30 IST.
