England Women vs India Women Harmanpreet Kaur. Image Credits: X
England is hosting India in a four-day game at the “Home of Cricket” starting this Friday. Lord’s finally hosts a women’s Test, 142 years since staging its first men’s Test match.
The historic match is taking place more than 50 years after the first women’s match of any kind at the renowned London venue, with England beating Australia by eight wickets in a one-day international on August 4, 1976.
50 English women's cricketers monumentalize the first women's Test at Lord's
To commemorate the historic first-ever women's Test match at Lord's, a remarkable group of 50 former England women cricketers gathered to ring the iconic Lord's five-minute bell together prior to the opening ball of the India vs England Test on July 10, 2026.
Watch the video here:
This monumental group featured some of the most celebrated legends in the history of English women's cricket, including Enid Bakewell, Claire Taylor, and Isa Guha.
The ceremony was designed to celebrate the exact 50th anniversary of the first time Rachael Heyhoe Flint led an England women's team at the Home of Cricket.
“Home of Cricket” marks a new chapter in history
For the unknown, the absence of a women's Test at Lord's was rooted in the traditions of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which operated as a men-only institution for more than two centuries.
Women were not allowed to become MCC members until a membership vote in 1998, while female spectators were barred from entering the Pavilion during play until 1999.
Even England legend Rachael Heyhoe Flint, one of the pioneers of women's cricket, had campaigned for years before Lord's agreed to host its first women's international, a One-Day International against Australia in 1976.
Also read: Why Is A Women’s Test Held For Four Days Instead Of Traditional 5?
Half a century after that breakthrough, England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur will lead their sides onto the field from the famous Pavilion, marking another milestone in the venue's history.
The match also makes Lord's the 20th ground in England to host a women's Test, despite the national team playing the format since 1937.
It is a sign of how things have changed for women’s cricket in the modern age.
IND vs ENG One-off Test: Harmanpreet Kaur's side bat first
Talking about the match, England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt won the toss and opted to bowl first. Spinner Shree Charani made her Test debut for the visitors. For England, Alice Capsey and Mady Villiers are making their Test debuts. Nat Sciver-Brunt is also leading England women for the first time in Tests.
Moreover, India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana is playing her 300th international game, the third most for the country after Mithali Raj (333) and Harmanpreet (374). Aged just 29, Mandhana also became the youngest to play 300 internationals in women's cricket and the 18th overall to achieve the milestone.
Meanwhile, this will be the last international match for England opener Tammy Beaumont, who had already announced her retirement earlier this week.
India Women Playing XI: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sayali Satghare, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud.
England Women Playing XI: Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Alice Capsey, Amy Jones (wk), Mady Villiers, Sophie Ecclestone, Isabelle Wong, Lauren Filer, Lauren Bell.
Also read: England Tightly Grips Its Players After Ben Stokes' Shocking Retirement
