More women’s teams are getting interested to play test cricket which is a good sign and It must be encouraged but women’s test cricket will not reach to its full potential till it is only played for 4 days. In the recently concluded only test match between South Africa Women and England Women, buzz was taken away as the match could not see any result. An enthralling women’s Test between ENG-W and SA-W came to a familiar shaking of hands at the end.
SA-W scored 284 runs while batting first in Taunton, Marizanne Kapp scored a stunning 150 in 213 balls with 26 boundaries. Kate Cross took 4 for 63 from England Women. In reply, ENG-W declared their innings on 417/8 in their first innings. Nat Sciver scored a breathtaking 169* while Alice Davidson-Richards scored 107 for her side. SA-W were at 181/5 in the second innings and the match was drawn. If it would have seen another day, who knows we would have seen a result. If fans can come and watch Women’s test for four days they certainly can come and watch for another day.
After the test match, England captain Heather Knight said, “Obviously disappointing. We really played the game in the right way. Every opportunity we had with bat and ball, we looked to take the game forward. We talked about that before the Test match and that was how we wanted to do things. I think we did that. Obviously it’s a shame that the rain intervened and a shame that the conversations will be a little bit around that and the four-day vs. five-day debate rather than focusing on some brilliant debutants and brilliant innings by Nat Sciver and ADR.”
When She was asked about her views on four-day vs. five-day Tests, She said, “Yeah, I’ve given my opinion on this before. That hasn’t changed. I still think five days. When we play it so rarely, I think it’s important for the format to make it exciting and for it to come to a crescendo. Obviously weather has intervened in our previous three Tests and the last however many Tests have been draws. So I think it’s something that needs to be looked at.”
This has not happened for the first time. Last year’s test match between IND-W and ENG-W were electrifying for its full course but ended in a draw as it was only scheduled to be played for 4 days.
Only 51 of the 143 women’s Test matches have had results and 90% of them have ended in a draw. The last six Women’s tests have all finished as draws. Is not that alarming? Is it how we are going to give more polularity to women’s cricket?
List of last six Women’s test
AUS vs ENG, 2017 – Draw
ENG vs AUS, 2019 – Draw
Eng vs IND, 2021 – Draw
AUS vs IND, 2021 – Draw
AUS vs ENG, 2021 – Draw
ENG vs SA, 2021 – Draw
Its high time ICC takes a step and make womens test for 5 days. As a cricket fan it is frustationg. It is great that Women’s Test cricket are becoming more regular but we do not see the logic behind 4days test matches.