Women's Tests - A Novelty That Begs for Context

In a historic moment for Indian cricket, Harmanpreet Kaur led her team to two consecutive Test victories within eight days. Despite the rarity of women's Test wins, Kaur passed on the winners trophy to the debutant(s) ahead of the team photo. Shubha Satheesh and Richa Ghosh were the proud recipients of this silverware, showcasing their pride and excitement.

Even Australia captain Alyssa Healy, who is more accustomed to being on the other side of the lens, couldn't resist capturing the occasion. She took a moment to help the photographers who were struggling with security. Although the result wasn't what she had hoped for, Healy still recognized the significance of the moment.

The atmosphere at the DY Patil Stadium was electric, with a passionate crowd cheering on both teams. The Bucket Hat Cult, known for their banter and support, entertained the spectators with their chants and slogans. Even amidst the India-centric slogans, there was recognition of the fight put up by the Australian team.

As the two-Test season came to a close at the Wankhede Stadium, everyone present yearned for more. Healy expressed her desire for two additional Test matches, believing it would be an incredible experience for both teams and a true test of their abilities. Tests are a novelty on the women's circuit, with only England, South Africa, and India actively playing them.

While Tests lack the prestige of a Test mace or ICC rankings for women, the context was brought by the inclusion of four points as part of a multi-format series between India and Australia. However, it was later clarified that this Test carried no weightage in terms of series points, which diminished its significance.

Healy expressed disappointment at the lack of context and the feeling that the Test seemed meaningless. She emphasized her desire to play more Test cricket and called for efforts to find a way to include it in the packed cricket calendar, which is currently dominated by white-ball formats.

Despite Australia having another red-ball fixture in their near future, Healy acknowledged the challenge of playing Test cricket in different conditions and the limited opportunities in the women's game. She highlighted the dominance of white-ball cricket and the difficulty of fitting Test matches into the busy schedule.

The popularity and demand for more women's Test matches have grown, evident from the five-day Ashes Test and India's successful home Test series. However, the practicality of scheduling more Test matches, considering the white-ball dominance of women's cricket and the limited number of teams involved, remains a challenge.

In conclusion, women's Tests are a novelty that yearn for context. Despite the thrilling performances and historic victories, the lack of regular Test matches and limited opportunities pose significant obstacles to the growth of this format in women's cricket.