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India Women’s recent success highlights the need for more Test cricket

India Women have played only three Tests since 2006.

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India Women have won both their Tests in 2014 © Getty Images
India Women have won both their Tests in 2014 © Getty Images

India Women demolished South Africa Women by an innings and 34 runs in Mysore, to win their second Test in the year. Varun Arora looks at some numbers from the game and points out why Mithali Raj’s unit needs to play more Test cricket.

Indian Women have played two Test matches this year and have won both of them. Before 2014, India Women’s last Test was way back in 2006, when they had beaten England Women. This year, they have beaten South Africa and England. One can say that Mithali Raj’s team has made full use of this opportunity and have reaped the rewards. On the other hand, the men have played 93 Tests since 2006 and have won 36.

In August 2014, when the men’s team was being thrashed around by England at The Oval in the fifth Test, the women’s team clinched victory in the Test match at Wormsley. It was a big ask for a team which has been playing cricket in there own den, accustomed with short sets of overs and sub-continental conditions.

The women’s team managed to shun England team by six wickets in the alien conditions. Eight out of 11 players made there debut in the Wormsley Test match and the remaining three had only played a single Test match eight years ago. Yes, women teams play very few Tests. Since 2006, Australia Women have played six and England Women have played eight. India’s three are too few in comparison, particularly when you bring to perspective the fact that two have come this year.

India Women dominated the Proteas in all departments at Mysore. It was also their biggest win margin in Test cricket. Centuries from Thirush Kamini and Poonam Raut propelled India to 400 in the first innings. It was also the highest second-wicket partnership in the history of women’s cricket. Kamini took 430 balls to reach 192 while Poonam got to her 130 in 355 balls.

South Africa women could not match up to India’s total in both the innings they batted in. After scoring 234 runs in the first innings, they were only reduced to 134 runs on Wednesday. Harmanpreet Kaur achieved the second-best figures as she picked up nine wickets conceding 85 runs.

Their win against South Africa at Mysore on Wednesday strengthens India Women’s case for more Test cricket. Women’s cricket came under the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2006, since then the team has only played three Tests!

(Varun Arora is a reporter with CricketCountry. He started as a medium-fast bowler, converted to an opening batsman but finally settled with his passion of writing about the game. His Twitter handle is @varunjgd)

 

 

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