I had hoped to post this before the opening session of the Test, but unfortunately work gets in the way as it sometimes does, and this is the first opportunity I’ve had today.
I would like to have written about form and favourites for this game; however, this is only the 7th Test match England’s women have played in the last 10 years, so this makes it somewhat difficult for someone who admittedly isn’t an expert on the women’s game.
A lot of the build-up was around the ECB’s decision to play this on a used pitch, which quite frankly is pathetic and for all their bluster about promoting the women’s game, this combined with the lack of red ball opportunities for women, really does highlight the ECB’s refusal to commit to growing the women’s game. It doesn’t matter that the pitch has played well so far and looks to be a batter’s paradise, if the roles had been reversed and the England men’s team had played a Test on the on a used pitch, there would have been an almighty uproar.
Owing to our work commitments over the next few days, we’re unable to properly cover the Test fully (and unfortunately no-one seemed keen to write reports for us for free). However, we will be retweeting videos and match reports from Raf Nicholson’s fantastic account @crickether.
If you do wish to comment sensibly about this match or the challenges the women’s game faces, then please do so below.
Being Outside Cricket 
Non-interesting fact: I’ve played against Heather Knight. I have vague memories of getting her out in the winter indoor leagues, but I’m not sure that’s much of a boast as she was a couple of years younger than me at the time. She played for either Plympton or Plymstock (I always got the two mixed up), and she batted pretty solidly and could turn her arm over. I don’t remember much of it other than her old man bemoaning that Devon Cricket were about as much use as a chocolate teapot when it came to offering her a route to play more cricket – I think after a certain age group she was basically banned from competing with males, and there wasn’t a female league in sight. Odd to think she’s basically been around for ever and yet has only played 7 Tests – not that I have a clue how popular that format is in the women’s game.
The lack of a fresh pitch is a shambles. Any local club could have prepared one, so why wouldn’t the full time groundsmen of a County Club?
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This is the ninth women’s Test … since January 2010. The only Test in that period that did not involve England or Australia was played in 2014, between South Africa and India.
Fun fact: Netherlands played a Test more recently than either New Zealand or West Indies (2007 the other two teams last in 2004). That also was the only Test the Netherlands ever played …
A woman who would have played in all Tests since 1934 (when the first Women’s Test was held) would have played in 141 Tests (mind you they would have needed quite a few nationalities!), i.e. the number that someone in the England men’s squad (provided he remains fit and part of the team) racks up in about a decade.
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Re the pitch–absolutely.
The things which came across strongly to me were, first, it seemed that the test wasn’t scheduled THAT late–in March I think: I know they’ve probably got their timetable for which square to use when organised some time before that, but it doesn’t sound irrevocably late, especially considering that Glos only had four first-team games before the second week of June.
Second that even with the test they only have a maximum of 23 international or county games in the season–which doesn’t sound like an unmanageable amount for a ground with men’s ODI and women’s test status.
Third, which games were considered more of a priority than a test match? (Royal London games with half the first team missing? Championship game against the county which has been weakest in the country for years?…)
Fourth, it’s not just incompetence, it’s also different treatment: the men’s T20s at Cardiff were inserted into the schedule every bit as late. All international games are equal but some are more equal than others, I guess.
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Absolutely this. I genuinely couldn’t have put it any better.
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I wont spend time on why women’s tests have not been played or the used strip.
I watched the ODIs telecast in 2014? between India women and England women and followed the scores of the test India won.
India ( as in men) have now great young batters (Smriti Mandhana a la an improved version of Ganguly and Shefali a junior version of Sheaf plus others) but sadly lacking pace bowlers.
Jhulan and Shikha still turning up shows that they have not been pushed enough by young talent.
In pace bowling, India women are still like India teams of 70s and 80s.
Since I was following the test, England played well and the debutant Finley ensured a good score when they may have folded up instead for 320+
India have started very well.
I guess the pitch is too batting friendly in the first two days.
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* Shefali a junior version of Sehwag
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Most of the top women cricketers have indicated that they’d love to play more international red ball games.
Unfortunately the cricket boards see them as loss leaders. It was interesting that both teams got into a position of strength in this Test, but the experience of pushing it forward just wasn’t there,,
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Hmm, “loss leaders”….and men’s tests not involving the Big Three are what exactly?!
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Ah, I thought that a fortnight was a bit of a long time without an England player (or aspiring one) getting involved in a disciplinary issue of some sort…:-)
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It does sadden me, a talent yes, but obviously a very flawed one.
I’d prefer to keep this thread about the women’s Test, but Joe Clarke is at best naive..
That’s genuinely all I can say.
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Oops, sorry Sean–feel free to delete it if it’s too off-topic!
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I guess the Test is yet another advertisement why 4-day Tests (for men) are a bad idea.
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