IND vs AUS: Are Tests India Women’s best format?

A gritty, often dominant, performance in Mumbai saw India register their first-ever win in women’s Test cricket history over Australia on Sunday. That India and Australia had played 10 Test matches starting from 1977 before this fixture tells one of the paucity of longer-format matches, especially in recent times. Australia had won four and drawn six before this game.

As of now, only India, England, and Australia play Test cricket somewhat regularly in the women’s game. Considering results since 2021, there is a good case to be made that India are made for this format and potentially the best at it. Statistically, they are unbeaten in women’s Tests since 2006 but more significantly, they have not lost any of the four matches they have played in a little over two years since returning to the format.

England vs India, Bristol, June 2021

India conceded 396 to England but responded strongly with a superb 167-run opening partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. But after a stunning collapse to be all out for 231, they were made to follow on. The visitors were once again in a precarious position at 199/7 but an 8th-wicket rearguard between Sneh Rana (80*) and Taniya Bhatia (44*) saw India earn a fighting draw.

Australia vs India, Carrara, September 2021

In their first pink-ball Test, India were off to a flier thanks to a fine century by Smriti Mandhana. With rain washing out large chunks of the first two days, the match was already destined for a draw. But Jhulan Goswami’s superb bowling, aided by Meghna Singh and Pooja Vastrakar, did have Australia under a little bit of pressure. To India’s credit, they never really let Australia into the game as they earned a draw.

India vs England, Navi Mumbai, December 2023

In their first Test at home in nine years, India rode on a brilliant first-innings batting display – their second-highest total in the format – to put England behind the eight ball from the word go. Half-centuries for Shubha Satheesh, Jemimah Rodrigues, Yastika Bhatia and Deepti Sharma saw India post 428. A stunning 50-minute batting collapse triggered by Deepti saw England fold for 136 in their first innings. India then set the visitors a target of 479, which Heather Knight and Co fell well short of. India won by 347 runs for the biggest victory margin in women’s Test history.

The future of women's Tests

After two memorable wins against England and Australia, India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was gushing in the post-match presentation on Sunday. She thanked the BCCI for bringing back home Tests, and added that she'd be happy to play more. Unfortunately, in the Future Tours Programme that has been finalised by ICC till April 2025, Indian women are not scheduled to play any more Test matches. It is not surprising per se that Harmanpreet wants India to play more Tests, because it is a format they have shown to be really good at in the last two years. It is worth noting that England captain Heather Knight and Australia captain Alyssa Healy – despite their sides' defeats – advocated for more matches, more than just one-off Tests without context. Knight and Healy both spoke about how just one Test leaves them with no chance of learning and adapting to conditions. Indeed, Australia showed that they were improving with every subsequent day of the Test. “We'd love to see more and more and I think it would create a real contest over three games, but the nature of the female game at the moment is it's very white-ball-dominant,” Healy said. As things stand, Australia are scheduled to play two more Tests next year – at home against South Africa and England. Both of those would likely be in the multi-format points system that we see in women's Ashes, where each match would count towards a final tally. But the women's game largely remains white-ball dominant, until more teams start playing at least a Test or two in a year, it's difficult to see a long-term future for the format. If the BCCI decides to make it a priority though, making sure any visiting team plays a Test during a tour, there could be a glimmer of hope.

India vs Australia, Mumbai, December 2023

In the first India vs Australia women’s Test on these shores in 40 years, Harmanpreet and Co lost the toss but grabbed the initiative with the ball early on Day 1 that would turn out to be decisive. A world-class batting line-up was bowled out for 219 and India were off to a flier in their first innings to take a commanding position. Australia, the champion side that they are, kept fighting back but India responded to pressure well to eventually win the match on the final day by 8 wickets.

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