It has been well over two thousand days since India Women played their last Test match, against South Africa Women at Mysuru in 2014/15. A lot has happened the interim period. For example, India have made it to the final of both the World Cup and the T20 World Cup. The women have earned central contracts. There has been, however small, a 20-over tournament involving overseas cricketers. And so on.
Not that England Women have played many Test matches over this period. They have played thrice, all in the Ashes, and have not won any. Just like their Indian counterparts, they have not played competitive red-ball cricket of late.
Their Test cap count outnumbers that of the Indians 11 to 8, but the Test matches are so infrequent that it hardly makes a difference. India do have their two senior cricketers, Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami, who had toured England in 2002. Across the two squads, there are some who were not born at that time. That does compensate for the inexperience of some others.
News has emerged that the Bristol pitch is a used one. A Vitality Blast match between Gloucestershire and Sussex was played here during the weekend. This is reminiscent of the 2019 Ashes Test of Taunton, where the pitch did not assist seam bowling at all. Ellyse Perry ended the Test with one wicket, Katherine Brunt with two, and Anya Shrubsole none.
In other words, the spinners may thrive here. While India do boast of Ekta Bisht, Deepti Sharma, and the two Yadavs – Radha and Poonam – England have the best spinner of the match, in Sophie Ecclestone. Expect her to play a key role, especially if India bat last.
Having said that, there is ample chance of rain, especially on the second and fourth days of the four-day Test match. A draw seems the likeliest outcome.
Head to head
The teams have met 13 times, of which England have won once and India twice. On English soil, India lead 2-0 (six draws).
Key players
Sophie Ecclestone (England): The used pitch may take turn, and if does, keep an eye on Ecclestone. Her control and variations make her dangerous on even flat pitches. On a helpful pitch she may run through.
Smriti Mandhana (India): Mandhana batted beautifully, especially in the fourth innings, when India last played a Test match in India. She will be expected to reprise that role.
Likely XIs
England: Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Heather Knight (c), Amy Jones (wk), Nat Sciver, Sophia Dunkley, Fran Wilson, Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole, Sophie Ecclestone, Emily Arlott
India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Punam Raut, Mithali Raj (c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Ekta Bisht, Arundhati Reddy
Prediction
A draw.