Test cricket is all set to make a comeback in England women’s schedule as the English side will meet India in June – July for three ODIs and three T20s, while New Zealand will provide a second opposition in September, playing three T20s and five ODIs.
The English women side will play a Test against India from June 16 at Bristol, which will also be the first non-Ashes Test since 2014.
Despite several sporting events currently being held behind closed doors, spectators will be allowed at Bristol with 50 percent capacity (approx 3,750 people per day), while the remaining fixtures – which if all goes to schedule will take place in Step 4 of the roadmap – will be allowed to be played in front of full houses.
Commenting on the upcoming summer calender, an elated England skipper Heather Knight said that it was really important that we keep Test cricket going in the women’s game.
“It’s a great addition. To know that we’ve got two Test matches within nine months is really nice actually. Usually it’s one every two years, so that’s more frequently than we normally have them,” Knight expressed.
“I love playing Test cricket. We don’t play much of it, but we really enjoy it and really enjoy the challenge of doing something we don’t do very often. It’s really important that we keep Test cricket going in the women’s game. Realistically, T20 is the sport that’s going to grow women’s cricket around the world and we’ve seen that over the last five years, but I’d love to keep playing Test cricket,” she added.
Further asserting on the importance of Test cricket, Knight said: “I’d love to see the multi-format series that we do for the Ashes as the norm going forward. I’d love to play a Test match in India, I think it would be a massive challenge. One of my proudest moments in an England shirt is scoring a Test century, and that speaks to the way that Test cricket is seen. It’s going to be a really big occasion, and coming from the South West I’m really chuffed that it’s going to be down at Bristol as well.”
England Women fixtures –
June 16-19: Test vs India, Bristol
June 27 1st ODI vs India, Bristol
June 30 2nd ODI vs India, Taunton
July 3 3rd ODI vs India, Worcester
July 9 1st T20I vs India, Northampton
July 11 2nd T20I vs India, Hove
July 15 3rd T20I vs India, Chelmsford
Sept 1 1st T20I vs NZ, Chelmsford
Sept 4 2nd T20I vs NZ, Hove
Sept 9 3rd T20I vs NZ, Taunton
Sept 16 1st ODI vs NZ, Bristol
Sept 19 2nd ODI vs NZ, Worcester
Sept 21 3rd ODI vs NZ, Leicester
Sept 23 4th ODI vs NZ, Derby
Sept 26 5th ODI vs NZ, Canterbury