Pitch battle in prospect as England, India resume long-form rivalry

First Test encounter for seven years units the scene for multi-format collection

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They name it the seven-year itch and after so lengthy in the Test match wilderness, India are prepared for a change of scene which they and their opponents, England, hope will likely be something however uninteresting or scratchy. So uncommon are ladies’s Tests that there’s a sense of stress to offer pleasure, not least to a stay TV viewers, as nicely as to followers who’re simply starting to whet their appetites for witnessing the motion in particular person as pandemic-enforced restrictions slowly ease.

But extra urgent for 2 skilled sports activities groups is the desire to win. England have not achieved so at dwelling to India in eight accomplished Test matches whereas India are taking part in simply their second Test since their final assembly in the format in 2014, having additionally performed and crushed South Africa later the identical 12 months. In truth, India are on a three-match profitable streak in Tests – in case you can name it a streak on condition that that streak begins in 2006 – and victory in Bristol would pull them away from Australia to a ladies’s report variety of Test victories on the trot.

Both sides boast Test match expertise, with eight members of India’s squad and 11 of England’s having performed the format earlier than. The dwelling contingent’s recall could also be higher on condition that it hasn’t fairly been two years since their final match, the 2019 Ashes affair at Taunton that grew to become a little bit of a speaking level for petering out to a rather dull draw.

News that this match will likely be performed on a pitch used for the lads’s T20 Blast final Friday could increase hopes of a consequence nevertheless it would not precisely purchase in to the hype surrounding this match, which has been appreciable on condition that the lads’s WTC ultimate between India and New Zealand begins on Friday. At least an in any other case iffy climate forecast is obvious for the primary day of the Women’s Test, providing them a major probability to show heads and even perhaps seduce a wider viewers.

It additionally units the stage for extra to return with the Test forming the primary a part of a multi-format collection incuding three ODIs and three T20Is.

In the highlight

Lauren Winfield-Hill was recognized early on in England’s preparations to open the batting alongside Tammy Beaumont. While skilled in Tests – she has performed three, together with the final time these two sides met – will probably be her first for the reason that 2017 Ashes. It additionally marks a comeback of types to the England set-up after struggles with Crohn’s illness prompted her to battle for recreation time over the previous 12 months. But together with her sickness below higher management, she has discovered type in lead-up matches – observe and home – which might make her one to look at.

Punam Raut made a breakthrough of types throughout India’s 4-1 ODI collection loss to South Africa in March. A match-winning century partnership with Smriti Mandhana adopted by two fifties and an unbeaten 104 off 123 balls lastly confirmed she has a couple of dimension. While her long-earned fame as gradual accumulator is suited to the Test format, exhibiting a capability to step up the scoring price when wanted suggests an rising adaptability that might show helpful relying on the match scenario.

Team information

England have settled on their XI however captain Heather Knight would not reveal her facet earlier than all of the gamers had been advised. Knight has spoken glowingly of quick bowler Emily Arlott since earlier than she earned her maiden England call-up to the squad and has been additional impressed throughout observe by her tempo and “handy” type with the bat, suggesting she could possibly be in line for a debut that may mark a stellar rise. Knight could possibly be tempted to roll over a few of her off-breaks with two left-handers in India’s line-up and having overcome a current again downside that pressured her to place bowling on the backburner in coaching for some time. She might name up one other off-spinner in Mady Viliers however left-armer Sophie Ecclestone appears too good a weapon to go away out.

England (doable): 1 Tammy Beaumont, 2 Lauren Winfield-Hill, 3 Heather Knight (capt), 4 Amy Jones, 5 Nat Sciver, 6 Sophia Dunkley, 7 Fran Wilson/Georgia Elwiss, 8 Katherine Brunt, 9 Anya Shrubsole, 10 Sophie Ecclestone, 11 Emily Arlott/Kate Cross

India are anticipated to go for three frontline pacers in Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, and both Arundhati Reddy or Pooja Vastrakar. Their primary spin choice will come all the way down to a selection between Poonam Yadav and Ekta Bisht bowling alongside Deepti Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur. It’s most definitely followers must wait not less than till the ODIs beginning subsequent week to see thrilling 17-year-old batter Shafali Verma in motion with India’s prime order well-stocked with skilled campaigners.

India (doable): 1 Smriti Mandhana, 2 Jemimah Rodrigues/Priya Punia, 3 Punam Raut, 4 Mithali Raj (capt), 5 Harmanpreet Kaur, 6 Deepti Sharma, 7 Taniya Bhatia (wk), 8 Jhulan Goswami, 9 Shikha Pandey, 10 Poonam Yadav/Ekta Bisht, 11 Arundhati Reddy/Pooja Vastrakar

Pitch and situations

The match will likely be performed on a pitch used for Gloucestershire’s T20 Blast match towards Sussex final Friday, which Knight branded “not ideal” and tried in useless to have modified. The climate might nicely play an enormous half with heat and vibrant sunshine forecast for the opening day, adopted by a excessive probability of rain, significantly on Thursday and Saturday.

Stats and trivia

England are in search of their first dwelling Test win towards India in eight accomplished matches

The recreation will likely be Heather Knight’s one centesimal as England captain

India will likely be taking part in their first Test in 2401 days

If India win, they’ll break the report for many consecutive wins in ladies’s Tests pulling away from Australia, with whom they’re presently tied at three apiece.

Quotes

“You obviously want to be entertaining and want to put on a show, and show off the best of your skills and the best of women’s cricket, but our job first and foremost is to try and win and be successful. That’s at the forefront of our mind, and if we can do both at the same time, even better.”
Heather Knight on profitable vs taking part in fairly

“You ask any modern-day cricketer, they still want to play the longer format because they eventually know that the format tests the skill of a player.”
Mithali Raj on gamers’ love of Test cricket

Valkerie Baynes is a normal editor at ESPNcricinfo

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