In a resounding call for the resurgence of Test matches in women’s cricket, India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur has voiced her conviction that the longest format of the game holds the key to the growth of women’s cricket. While the Women in Blue have achieved remarkable strides in white-ball cricket over the past decade, their engagement in red-ball cricket has been notably limited. As the current Future Tours Programme (FTP) cycle for the period 2022-2025 unfolds, the Indian women’s team is slated to partake in the fewest Test matches among the four competing teams in this format.
Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of the Indian women’s team, has made it clear that the craving for more red-ball cricket is evident within her ranks, both in the international arena and the domestic circuit. The Indian women’s cricket team is scheduled to engage in only two Test matches during the 2023-24 season, both of which will be held on home turf against England and Australia. This scarcity of Test cricket is a poignant contrast to the team’s burgeoning prowess in shorter formats.
Expressing her fervent hope for a resurgence of Test matches in women’s cricket, Kaur emphasized, “This year we have two Tests—one against England and one against Australia—and I hope those games can make a significant impact on women’s cricket. Hopefully, in the future, we will continue to secure more opportunities to play Test matches. We must rekindle the tradition of Test matches in women’s cricket, as it holds immense importance for the growth and development of the sport.”
In the ongoing FTP cycle, England, Australia, and South Africa are slated to play five, four, and three Test matches, respectively. Kaur’s earnest call to action resonates with her personal experiences as a cricketer. She reminisces, “As a player, I definitely want more Tests because, during my formative years, we witnessed more Test matches on television than T20s. While playing T20s is immensely enjoyable, the allure of Test cricket remains undiminished. Every cricketer aspires to step onto the Test stage.”
Kaur’s advocacy extends beyond the international arena to the domestic scene. She acknowledges the commendable progress witnessed on the domestic front, yet underscores the need for increased participation in multi-day matches. She notes, “Domestic cricket has certainly made leaps in the right direction. In the initial stages of my career, we had limited opportunities for domestic matches. However, in recent years, the domestic landscape has transformed considerably. We are witnessing more matches, some of which are even broadcast on television.”
The history of women’s domestic cricket in India underlines the significance of multi-day matches. The last instances of red-ball events—the Inter-zonal three-day tournament and the inter-zonal Under-19 two-day tournament—date back to the 2017-18 season. Kaur’s longing for a revival of such encounters is palpable. She shares, “During my early years, we engaged in two-and three-day matches, an aspect that we are currently missing. With the upcoming two Test matches, I am hopeful that we can reclaim the tradition of two-day matches.”
Kaur’s convictions are grounded in her vision for women’s cricket—a vision that embraces a holistic growth trajectory. She concludes, “The more cricket we play, the greater strides we shall make in women’s cricket. I am optimistic about witnessing the emergence of new talents in the Indian side. As we commit ourselves to the revival of Test matches and longer formats, we are paving the way for a more robust and thriving future for women’s cricket.”
In sum, Harmanpreet Kaur’s call to reinvigorate Test matches in women’s cricket stands as a rallying cry for the reinstatement of an integral component of the game. With the captain’s resolve and the collective aspiration of the cricketing fraternity, the resurrection of Test matches holds the promise of shaping a new chapter in the journey of women’s cricket.