India and England Set to Create History as Lord’s Hosts Its First-Ever Women’s Test From Friday

London: Lord’s, widely regarded as the Home of Cricket, is all set to witness a landmark moment in women’s cricket history. India and England will face off in a four-day Test beginning on Friday, July 10 (3:30 PM IST), making it the first-ever women’s Test match to be played at the iconic venue.

London: Lord’s, widely regarded as the Home of Cricket, is all set to witness a landmark moment in women’s cricket history. India and England will face off in a four-day Test beginning on Friday, July 10 (3:30 PM IST), making it the first-ever women’s Test match to be played at the iconic venue.

Harmanpreet Kaur will lead India, while England will be captained by all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt, who has previously played under Harmanpreet’s leadership for Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League (WPL).

England may still be recovering from Sunday’s defeat to Australia in the Women’s T20 World Cup final at Lord’s. However, with the contest shifting to the traditional four-day Test format, the hosts will be eager to make a fresh start against India.

Women Were Not Allowed Inside the Pavilion Until 1999

Until March 1999, women spectators were not permitted inside the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Pavilion at Lord’s.

Now, 27 years later, England’s women, led by Nat Sciver-Brunt, will proudly walk through the historic Long Room before taking the field against India in a truly historic Test match.

Why Did It Take So Long?

The first men’s Test at Lord’s was played in July 1884 between England and Australia.

Led by Lord Harris, England defeated Billy Murdoch’s Australian side by an innings and five runs, beginning Lord’s long association with Test cricket.

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Despite hosting Test cricket for 142 years, the venue has never staged a women’s Test until now.

Remarkable Facts About Lord’s and Women’s Test Cricket

1. The first women’s cricket match at Lord’s was played 50 years ago.
   
2. Women’s Test cricket has been played in England since 1937. A total of 55 women’s Tests have been staged across 19 venues in England, but none had previously been held at Lord’s.
   
3. In 2023, the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket criticised the absence of women’s Tests at Lord’s, calling it discriminatory. Three years later, the MCC responded by awarding the historic 2026 fixture to the venue. England head coach Charlotte Edwards described it as a landmark occasion for both England and India.
   
4. England last defeated India in a Women’s Test in 1995 at Jamshedpur. India has remained unbeaten against England in the format ever since.
   
5. India and England have played 15 Women’s Tests. India has won three, England one, while the remaining 11 matches ended in draws.
   
6. Women’s Tests are played over four days instead of five. Teams are required to bowl a minimum of 100 overs each day, while the follow-on target is 150 runs instead of 200.
   
7. Only two five-day Women’s Tests have ever been played, and players reportedly enjoyed the experience of competing on the fifth day.
   
8. India’s most recent Women’s Test was against Australia in March this year, when they suffered a 10-wicket defeat in a pink-ball Test. India did not play a Women’s Test in 2025 and featured in only one Test in 2024. England’s last Women’s Test was played in January 2025.
   
9. India last played a Women’s Test in England in 2014 at Wormsley under Mithali Raj’s captaincy, with Smriti Mandhana producing an impressive performance.
   
10. Batter Harleen Deol, spinner Shree Charani and fast bowler Nandini Sharma are all set to make their Test debuts for India. Opener Pratika Rawal has been ruled out due to injury and has been replaced by Priya Punia.

Squads

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (Vice-Captain), Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh (Wicketkeeper), Jemimah Rodrigues, Yastika Bhatia (Wicketkeeper), Deepti Sharma, Harleen Deol, Kranti Goud, Priya Punia, Sneh Rana, Renuka Singh, Sayali Satghare, Nandini Sharma and Shree Charani.

England: Nat Sciver-Brunt (Captain), Amy Jones (Wicketkeeper), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Heather Knight, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Emma Lamb, Grace Potts, Eleanor Threlkeld, Mady Villiers and Issy Wong.

Caption: Harmanpreet Kaur will captain India, while Nat Sciver-Brunt will lead England in the historic first-ever Women’s Test at Lord’s.