Women's Test cricket

Last updated

Test cricket - women - 1935.jpg
The first women's Test match was played between England and Australia in 1934–35
2017-18 W Ashes A v E Test 17-11-11 Perry (01).jpg
England's Sarah Taylor (left) and Australia's Ellyse Perry (right) during the Women's Ashes Test match played in 2017–18

Women's Test cricket is the longest format of women's cricket and is the female equivalent to men's Test cricket. Matches comprise four-innings and are held over a maximum of four days between two of the leading cricketing nations. The rules governing the format differ little from those for the men's game, with differences generally being technicalities surrounding umpiring and field size.

Contents

The first women's Test match was played by England women and Australia women in December 1934, a three-day contest held in Brisbane which England won by nine wickets. [1] A total of 144 Women's Test matches have been played. Far fewer matches are played each year in favour of Women's One Day Internationals and Women's Twenty20 Internationals, with the international calendar revolving around the shorter formats of the game.

Playing conditions

Women's Test cricket is subject to the Laws of cricket, with a number of variations and refinements, which are set out in the ICC's "Women's Test match playing conditions" document. For the most part, these playing conditions are very similar to those set out for men's Test cricket. Matches are played between two teams of eleven players, across up to four innings. Test cricket can have three results: a tie, a draw, or one team wins. [2]

The primary, and most noticeable, difference from the men's game is that women's Test matches are typically played over four days, rather than five. However, the players are expected to fit more overs in per hour in the women's game than the men's: 17 as opposed to 15, and so a full day's play in a women's Test match should include 100 overs, rather than 90. The cricket field has smaller dimensions; the boundaries must be between 55 and 70 yards (50.29 and 64.01 m), in contrast to the 65 to 90 yards (59.44 to 82.30 m) required in men's Tests. [2] [3] As well as playing on a smaller field, the women use a smaller and lighter ball than their male counterparts; the Laws of cricket dictate that women should use a ball that is between 4+15⁄16 and 5+5⁄16 ounces (139.98 and 150.61 grams); which could be up to 13⁄16 ounces (23.03 grams) lighter than the ball used by the men. [4] The Decision Review System (UDRS) is now available in women's Test matches, also umpires are permitted to ask the third umpire to check television replays in certain cases. [2] [3]

As women's tests are often played over four days, the minimum lead to impose a follow-on is 150 runs, as opposed to a 200 run lead when played over five days. This is consistent with four/five day men's test matches. [5]

Nations

In all, ten national women's teams have competed in Test cricket. The England team's tour of Australia and New Zealand in the 1934–35 season established the first three sides, and it is those three teams that have competed in Test cricket most frequently; each having played at least 45 matches. South Africa were the next side to play the format, contesting their first match in 1960. [6] However, due to their exclusion from international sport due to the nation's apartheid policy, [7] they have only played in thirteen Test matches, fewer than India. Four sides — Pakistan, Ireland, the Netherlands and Sri Lanka — have competed in fewer than five Test matches. [6]

The nations with men's and women's test teams do not entirely overlap. Of full members with men's test teams, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe do not have women's test teams. Netherlands, while not a test team in the men's game, are a test playing nation in the women's game. Ireland, while having both men's and women's test teams, unusually played a women's test match, their only one to date, seventeen years before their first men's test match - on both test debuts, the opponent was Pakistan. The eight other full members, including Pakistan, have played men's, and then women's, test cricket.

Recent developments

As of April 2019, there had only been one Women's Test match in the previous three years, and only two teams other than England and Australia had played in a Women's Test in the previous ten years. [8] Australia's captain, Meg Lanning, expressed her interest in more Women's Test matches being played. [9] In July 2019, following the conclusion of the one-off Women's Ashes Test in England, the question was raised about whether Women's Test matches should be played across five days, instead of four. The match had two sessions washed out and finished in a draw. [10]

In December 2019, New Zealand's Sophie Devine requested that administrators arrange a Women's Test match between New Zealand and Australia, following a strong performance in the Women's Big Bash League. [11] New Zealand's women last played in a Test match in 2004, and their last encounter against Australia in the format was in 1996. [12] In June 2020, during an ICC webinar, Devine and India's Jemimah Rodrigues both supported the idea of a multi-format series for women's cricket. [13]

In April 2021, the ICC awarded permanent Test and One Day International (ODI) status to all full member women's teams. [14]

On International Women's Day 2021, it was announced that India and England would play a one-off Test later in the year. [15] The Test was played at Bristol County Ground, between 16 and 19 June 2021. [16] [17] Additionally, the Board of Control for Cricket in India was said to be in talks with Cricket Australia about a possible Test match between India and Australia. [18]

Between 2000 and June 2021, only thirty women's Test matches were played, with fourteen of those being Ashes Tests between Australia and England. [19]

On 20 May 2021, Cricket Australia confirmed that an Australia versus India Test match would be played at the WACA Ground, Perth, between 30 September and 3 October 2021. [20] Due to COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, the match was later moved to Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast in Queensland. [21] Another Test match, between Australia and England, was played at Manuka Oval, Canberra, between 27 and 30 January 2022, as part of the 2021–22 Women's Ashes series. [22] Both of these matches ended in a draw. [23] [24]

In an interview on the BBC Test Match Special radio programme during the 1st Test of the New Zealand men's tour of England in early June 2022, Greg Barclay, Chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC), asserted that women's Test cricket will not be "part of the landscape moving forward to any real extent". [25] The assertion generated significant controversy, and also calls from former women's Test cricketers and others for the ICC to return control of the women's game to women's cricket associations. [26]

At the end of June 2022, England and South Africa played their first women's Test match against each other since 2003. The match was South Africa's first women's Test since November 2014. It was played at the County Ground, Taunton, England, and was the first stage of a multi-format South African tour of England. [27] [28]

Women's Test cricket teams [6]
TeamFirstLatestMatchesWonLostDrawn
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1934202479221146
Flag of England.svg  England 19342023100201664
Flag of India.svg  India 19762023407627
Cricket Ireland flag.svg  Ireland 200020001100
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 200720071010
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 193520044521033
Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 199820043021
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 1960202414158
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 199819981100
WestIndiesCricketFlagPre1999.svg  West Indies 1976200412138

Records

Betty Wilson was the first player (man or woman) to take 10 wickets and score a century in the same Test, including the first Women's Test hat-trick. BettyWilson.jpg
Betty Wilson was the first player (man or woman) to take 10 wickets and score a century in the same Test, including the first Women's Test hat-trick.

Due to the infrequent playing of women's Test cricket outside of Australia, England and New Zealand, cumulative records, such as the most runs during a career, are dominated by players from those three nations. England's Jan Brittin has scored the most runs during her career, totalling 1,935 during her 27 matches, and 18 of the top twenty players come from either Australia, England or New Zealand. [29] The Australian batsman Denise Annetts, who is 15th on that list, [29] has the highest batting average, 81.90, from her ten matches. [30] Annetts was also involved in the largest partnership in women's Test cricket, sharing a stand of 309 runs with Lindsay Reeler in 1987. [31] Eight women have scored double centuries in Test cricket; the highest of these was the 242 runs scored by Pakistan's Kiran Baluch against the West Indies in 2004. [32]

Mary Duggan, who played for England between 1949 and 1963 is the leading wicket-taker in women's Test cricket, claiming 77 wickets from 17 matches. [33] The next most prolific bowler is Australia's Betty Wilson, who claimed her 68 wickets at the lowest bowling average, 11.80 and the first hat-trick in Women's Test cricket. [34] Both of the players with the best bowling figures, in an innings and in a match, are from the Indian subcontinent; India's Neetu David holds the record for the best figures in an innings, having taken eight second innings wickets against England in 1995, [35] while Pakistan's Shaiza Khan took thirteen wickets in a match against the West Indies in 2004. [36]

Amongst wicket-keepers, Christina Matthews has taken the most dismissals in her career, accumulating 46 catches and 12 stumpings during her 20 matches for Australia. [37] Lisa Nye holds the record for the most dismissals in a single innings, having been responsible for eight of the ten wickets for England against New Zealand in 1992. [38] Only two players have achieved the all-rounders double of scoring a century and taking ten wickets in the same match; Betty Wilson did it against England in 1958, while Enid Bakewell managed it for England against the West Indies in 1979. [39] Wilson's performance was the first time such a feat had been achieved in Men's or Women's Tests and also included the first hat-trick in Women's Tests. [40]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Test cricket</span> Longest form of cricket

Test cricket is a form of first-class cricket played at international level between teams representing full member countries of the International Cricket Council (ICC). A match consists of four innings in which players have to play until they get all batsmen out; the match ends when all batsmen of the opposing team are out. It is scheduled to last for up to five days with 6 hours of play each day. Only 90 overs can be bowled per day making it the sport with the longest playing time. In the past, some Test matches had no time limit and were called Timeless Tests. The term "test match" was originally coined in 1861–62 but in a different context.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia national cricket team</span> National sports team

The Australia men's national cricket team represents Australia in men's international cricket. As the joint oldest team in Test cricket history, playing in the first ever Test match in 1877, the team also plays One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket, participating in both the first ODI, against England in the 1970–71 season and the first T20I, against New Zealand in the 2004–05 season, winning both games. The team draws its players from teams playing in the Australian domestic competitions – the Sheffield Shield, the Australian domestic limited-overs cricket tournament and the Big Bash League. Australia are the current ICC World Test Championship and ICC Cricket World Cup champions. They are regarded as most successful cricket teams in the history of Cricket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand national cricket team</span> Mens international cricket team

The New Zealand national cricket team represents New Zealand in men's international cricket. Nicknamed the Black Caps, they played their first Test in 1930 against England in Christchurch, becoming the fifth country to play Test cricket. From 1930 New Zealand had to wait until 1956, more than 26 years, for its first Test victory, against the West Indies at Eden Park in Auckland. They played their first ODI in the 1972–73 season against Pakistan in Christchurch. New Zealand are the inaugural champions of WTC which they won in 2021 and they have also won ICC CT in 2000. They have played in the CWC final twice and the T20 WC final once.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pakistan national cricket team</span> National sports team

The Pakistan national cricket team, has represented Pakistan in international cricket since 1952. It is controlled by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the governing body for cricket in Pakistan, which is a Full Member of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Pakistan compete in cricket tours and tournaments sanctioned by the PCB and other regional or international cricket bodies in Test, One Day International (ODI), and Twenty20 International (T20) formats. Pakistan are current ICC Champions Trophy holders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh national cricket team</span>

The Bangladesh men's national cricket team, popularly known as The Tigers, is administered by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). It is a Full Member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) with Test, One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) status. It played its first Test match in November 2000 against India with a 9 wicket win in Dhaka, becoming the tenth Test-playing nation. It became an associate member of the ICC in 1977, and competed in six ICC Trophies but performed inconsistently until 1997, which marked the year of their first major victory, winning the 1997 ICC Trophy held in Malaysia. This set Bangladesh on its way of becoming a Test-playing nation, a journey which ended with success in the year 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shane Watson</span> Australian cricketer

Shane Robert Watson is an Australian cricket commentator and former cricketer who played for and occasionally captained the Australian national cricket team between 2002 and 2016. He was an all-rounder who played as a right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast-medium bowler. He was ranked as the world's No. 1 all-rounder in Twenty20 Internationals (T20I) for 150 weeks, including an all-time record of 120 consecutive weeks from 13 October 2011 to 30 January 2014. He began playing during the Australian team's golden era in the early 2000s, and was the last player from this era to retire. In his time playing for Australia, Watson was part of their winning squad in the Cricket World Cup two times in 2007, and 2015 along with the ICC Champions Trophy twice in 2006 and 2009, with Watson named as the player of the match in the final on both occasions, as he scored the winning run in the 2006 tournament, with the winning six in the 2009 tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohammed Shami</span> Indian cricketer

Mohammed Shami is an Indian international cricketer who serves as a right-arm fast or fast medium bowler, representing India in all formats. He has played for Bengal in domestic cricket and for four teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Shami bowls the ball off the seam and uses swing, including reverse swing, to move the ball both directions. He has been reputed to have an edge in the death (slog) overs of a limited-overs innings and, in all formats, has been described as being at times "unplayable". Shami finished as India's leading wicket taker in the ICC World Cup 2023, besides being the fastest bowler to take 50 wickets in the 48 years history of Cricket World Cup spanning 13 editions. He is recipient of 2023 Arjuna Award for Cricket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand women's national cricket team</span> Team representing New Zealand in womens international cricket

The New Zealand women's national cricket team, nicknamed the White Ferns, represents New Zealand in international women's cricket. One of eight teams competing in the ICC Women's Championship, the team is organised by New Zealand Cricket, a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia women's national cricket team</span> Australia womens national cricket team

The Australian women's national cricket team represent Australia in international women's cricket. Currently captained by Alyssa Healy and coached by Shelley Nitschke, they are the top team in all world rankings assigned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the women's game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twenty20 International</span> Form of cricket

A Twenty20 International (T20I) is a form of cricket, played between international members of the International Cricket Council (ICC), where each team faces a maximum of twenty overs. These matches hold top-class status and are the highest T20 standard. The game is played under the rules of Twenty20 cricket. Starting from the format's inception in 2005, T20I status only applied to Full Members and some Associate Member teams. However, in April 2018, the ICC announced that it would grant T20I status to all its 105 members from 1 January 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Southee</span> New Zealand cricketer

Timothy Grant Southee, is a New Zealand international cricketer who plays for New Zealand cricket team in all formats of the game, captain in Tests and vice captain in T20Is. He is a right-arm fast-medium bowler and a hard-hitting lower order batsman. The third New Zealand bowler to take 300 Test wickets, he was one of the country's youngest cricketers, debuting at the age of 19 in February 2008. On his Test debut against England he took 5 wickets and made 77 off 40 balls in the second innings. He plays for Northern Districts in the Plunket Shield, Ford Trophy and Super Smash as well as Northland in the Hawke Cup. He was named as New Zealand's captain for the first T20I against West Indies in place of Kane Williamson, who was rested for that game. The Blackcaps won that match by 47 runs. Southee was a member of the New Zealand team that won the 2019–2021 ICC World Test Championship. Southee currently has the highest (international) test batting strike rate among the batsmen with a minimum of 2000 test runs. His (batting) career strike rate is 83.12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ireland women's cricket team</span> Ireland womens national cricket team

The Ireland women's cricket team represents Ireland in international women's cricket. Cricket in Ireland is governed by Cricket Ireland and organised on an All-Ireland basis, meaning the Irish women's team represents both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ravichandran Ashwin</span> Indian cricketer

Ravichandran Ashwin is an Indian international cricketer. He is a right-arm off spin bowler and a lower order batter. Widely regarded as one of the most prolific off spinners of all time, he represents the Indian cricket team and was part of the Indian team that won the 2011 Cricket World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. He plays for Tamil Nadu and South Zone in domestic cricket and for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trent Boult</span> New Zealand cricketer

Trent Alexander Boult is a New Zealand international cricketer who represents the New Zealand cricket team in all formats. He also plays in various T20 leagues around the globe as a fast bowler. He is regarded to be one of the best bowlers of all time and is known for his exploits with the new ball in limited overs cricket. Boult was a key member of the New Zealand team that won the 2019–2021 ICC World Test Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Hazlewood</span> Australian cricketer

Josh Reginald Hazlewood is an Australian international cricketer. He is a tall pace bowler known for his accuracy and has been compared to former Australian paceman Glenn McGrath. Hazlewood currently ranks no.2 in ODI, no.12 in T20I and no.11 in Test in the ICC Men's Player Rankings. He was a part of the Australian side that won both 2015 and 2023 Cricket World Cup, 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup and 2021–2023 ICC World Test Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitchell Starc</span> Australian international cricketer (born 1990)

Mitchell Aaron Starc is an Australian international cricketer who plays for the Australian national team and New South Wales in domestic cricket. A left-arm fast bowler and a lower order left-handed batsman, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in white-ball cricket as well as one of the best fast bowlers to play the ICC Cricket World Cup. Starc represents Australia in all three main formats of international cricket: Test cricket, One Day Internationals (ODI), and Twenty20 Internationals. In 2015, he was the highest-rated bowler in ODI cricket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Stokes</span> English cricketer (born 1991)

Benjamin Andrew Stokes is an English international cricketer who is the captain of the England Test team and plays for the England team in ODIs and T20Is. In domestic cricket, he represents Durham and has played in multiple Twenty20 leagues around the world. He was part of the England team that won the 2019 Cricket World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup.

References

  1. ↑ "1st Test: Australia Women v England Women at Brisbane, Dec 28–31, 1934". Cricinfo. 28 December 1934. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 "Women's Test match playing conditions" (PDF). International Cricket Council. 1 October 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 August 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Standard Test match playing conditions" (PDF). International Cricket Council. 30 April 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 August 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  4. ↑ "Law 5 (The ball)". Marylebone Cricket Club . Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  5. ↑ "Law 14 (The follow-on)". Marylebone Cricket Club . Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 "Records / Women's Test matches / Team records / Results summary". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  7. ↑ "From the Archive: Gleneagles Agreement on Sport". Commonwealth Secretariat. 11 June 2009. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  8. ↑ "India the key to more women's Tests - Lanning". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  9. ↑ "Meg Lanning wants a more steady diet of Test cricket". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  10. ↑ "Should women's Tests be played over five days?". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  11. ↑ "Sophie Devine pleads for White Ferns to be scheduled a test match". Stuff. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  12. ↑ "NZ want Test off WBBL success". The Australian. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  13. ↑ "Sophie Devine backs smaller, lighter ball in women's cricket". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  14. ↑ "The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board and Committee meetings have concluded following a series of virtual conference calls". ICC. 1 April 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  15. ↑ ESPNcricinfo staff (8 March 2021). "India Women to play Test against England this year, says BCCI secretary Jay Shah". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  16. ↑ "Only Test, Bristol, 16 - 19 June 2021, India Women tour of England". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  17. ↑ scorecard
  18. ↑ Women's CricZone Staff (8 March 2021). "India set to play a Test against England this year; match likely during their proposed England tour". Women's Criczone. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  19. ↑ "England's Amy Jones says women could play more Test cricket". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  20. ↑ Jolly, Laura. "WACA makes Test comeback for drought-breaking clash". Cricket.com.au. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  21. ↑ "Perth ROBBED of historic Test as CA shifts series to QLD". The West Australian . AAP. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  22. ↑ "Ashes 2021-22 schedule: Dates announced for men's and women's series". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  23. ↑ "Full Scorecard of IND Women vs AUS Women Only Test 2021/22 - Score Report". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  24. ↑ "Full Scorecard of AUS Women vs ENG Women Only Test 2021/22 - Score Report". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  25. ↑ "Women's Test matches 'not part of future landscape' says ICC chief". ABC News . 3 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  26. ↑ Carter, Brittany (11 June 2022). "Former greats call for ICC to hand back control of women's cricket". ABC News. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  27. ↑ "England Women set for first Test match against South Africa for nearly 20 years in busy summer". Sky Sports . 15 February 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  28. ↑ "Momentum Proteas multi-format tour to England confirmed". Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  29. 1 2 "Records / Women's Test matches / Batting records / Most runs in career". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  30. ↑ "Records / Women's Test matches / Batting records / Highest career batting average". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  31. ↑ "Records / Women's Test matches / Partnership records / Highest partnerships for any wicket". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  32. ↑ "Records / Women's Test matches / Batting records / Most runs in an innings". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  33. ↑ "Records / Women's Test matches / Bowling records / Most wickets in career". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  34. ↑ "Records / Women's Test matches / Bowling records / Best career bowling average". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  35. ↑ "Records / Women's Test matches / Bowling records / Best figures in an innings". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  36. ↑ "Records / Women's Test matches / Bowling records / Best figures in a match". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  37. ↑ "Records / Women's Test matches / Wicketkeeping records / Most dismissals in career". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  38. ↑ "Records / Women's Test matches / Wicketkeeping records / Most dismissals in an innings". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  39. ↑ "Records / Women's Test matches / All-round records / 100 runs and 10 wickets in a match". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  40. ↑ "Records / Women's Test matches / Bowling records / Hat-tricks". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.