London, July 9: After 150 men's Test matches, 142 years since Lord's hosted its maiden Test and more than nine decades since the first Women's Test was played. The 'Home of Cricket' is finally opening its doors to Women's Test cricket.
Starting Friday (Julu 10), Harmanpreet Kaur-led India take on Nat Sciver-Brunt's England in a historic one-off Test, which is set to usher another glorious chapter in women's cricket.
Lord's hosted its first men's Test between England and Australia in 1884 and has since staged 150 matches in the longest format. Women's Test cricket, meanwhile, began with an England-Australia contest in Brisbane in December 1934.
Ninety-two years after that inaugural Women's Test match, players from India and England will finally
walk out in Test whites at one of the most iconic venues in world sport.
Why Is India vs England Women's Test at Lord's Historic?
For all its history and tradition, Lord's had never hosted a Women's Test match. The venue has staged Women's One-Day Internationals and T20Is, including World Cup finals, but the longest format had remained conspicuously absent.
The historic omission had drawn criticism over the years, particularly as other major English venues hosted Women's Tests. That wait is finally going end on July 10, when the two captains walk into the middle on Friday.
Buzzing to be back in whites 🤍 pic.twitter.com/GnpVd42LUq
- England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 9, 2026
From T20 World Cup Final to Women's Test History at Lord's
The historic Test comes only days after the Lord's balcony witnessed another memorable moment in women's cricket. Beth Mooney-led Australia celebrated on the famous balcony after defeating hosts England in the Women's T20 World Cup final to lift a record-extending seventh title.
The same balcony, which has provided the backdrop to countless iconic moments in cricket history, will now be occupied by women cricketers playing a Test match at the venue for the first time.
For India and England, the occasion offers an opportunity to create a different kind of legacy. The players who take the field for the national anthems will have their names permanently etched with a landmark moment in the history of both Lord's and Women's Test cricket.
How Many Women's Tests Have Been Played in England?
The Lord's Test will be England Women's 103rd match in the longest format, while the iconic London ground will become the 20th venue in England to host a Women's Test.
The numbers underline the historical anomaly surrounding Lord's. Women's Test cricket has been played for more than nine decades and at several venues across England, but its most famous cricket ground had remained absent from the list.
That will finally change when Harmanpreet and Nat Sciver-Brunt walk out for the toss on Friday.
India vs England Women's Test Head-to-Head Record
India and England share a Test rivalry stretching back four decades, with their first meeting in the format taking place in 1986.
The two teams have faced each other in 15 Women's Tests, with India holding an edge over their English counterparts. The Indian eves have won three matches compared to England's solitary victory in the red-ball format, while 11 contests have ended in draws.
India have traditionally performed well against England in recent Test meetings. The Women in Blue have won two of their last three Tests against the hosts, dating back to August 2014.
Several prominent names involved in the historic Lord's Test were also part of the 2014 contest at Wormsley. Harmanpreet, Smriti Mandhana, Sciver-Brunt, Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight featured in that match, along with current England head coach Charlotte Edwards.
The two teams met again in Bristol in 2021, where India secured a draw, before Harmanpreet's side registered a comprehensive victory on home soil in 2023.
India's Recent Record in Women's Test Cricket
India's recent performances in the longest format have further added to the excitement surrounding the contest at Lord's.
Since defeating England at home in 2023, India have registered Test victories over Australia and South Africa. Their most recent outing, however, ended in a 10-wicket defeat against Australia in March.
Dear England fans,
- England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 8, 2026
Tammy Beaumont has something she would like to say 🫶 pic.twitter.com/JUBABA5IKC
England have also experienced contrasting fortunes in Test cricket, which is played over a period of four days in women's format. They defeated South Africa in 2024 but suffered a crushing innings-and-122-run defeat against Australia in last year's Women's Ashes.
Who Said What?
Harmanpreet Kaur Eyes Redemption After T20 World Cup Disappointment
For Harmanpreet, the historic occasion also presents India with an opportunity to recover from their disappointing T20 World Cup campaign.
"This Test match is a very big deal for us," Harmanpreet told reporters at Lord's on the eve of the match. "It will be very good for the team if we win it.
"Everyone at home is sad that we could not give our best at the T20 World Cup. We did well in some games but not overall. But at this Test match, we can make up for that. We can bring that confidence back. "
The India captain acknowledged the emotional fluctuations that come with international sport but believes victory at Lord's could provide an important boost ahead of future assignments.
"Cricket is like that. One day you feel great, the best team in the world, and then you feel low when things don't go your way. If we win, it will give us a lot of confidence and it will help us a lot in the upcoming tournaments," she added.
Nat Sciver-Brunt Welcomes Change of Format After World Cup Heartbreak
The English women enter the Test attempting to recover from the disappointment of losing the T20 World Cup final to Australia. Sciver-Brunt admitted that the emotions surrounding England's World Cup campaign remain mixed, but believes the immediate switch from T20 cricket to the longest format has arrived at an opportune time.
"The World Cup and everything that we managed to do still has mixed emotions because obviously the final result isn't what we wanted, but I'm so proud of everybody and everything that we were able to do throughout the tournament," Sciver-Brunt said.
"The change of format is great timing. If it was going to be four days between a series, at least a change of format would be good.
"We've got some fresh faces into our squad that are bringing some great energy. I'm sure the disappointment won't have left lots of people about what happened at the final, but we are looking forward to such a special week here at Lord's. "
England Make Six Changes From T20 World Cup Squad
England will enter the Test with a significantly changed squad, with six players from their T20 World Cup campaign missing the historic encounter.
Charlie Dean, Dani Gibson and Freya Kemp are having their workloads managed following injuries suffered before the World Cup. Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley and Linsey Smith, meanwhile, were overlooked for the Test. Meanwhile, senior England cricketer Tammy Beaumont has announced the match will be her last, making it an emotional game for her.
India too have a forced change into their squad as top-order batter Pratika Rawal has been ruled out due to injury. Uncapped Priya Punia has been called in as her replacement.
India and England Ready to Create History at Lord's
The result will inevitably matter to both teams. India will look to extend their impressive Test record against England, while the hosts will hope to recover quickly from their T20 World Cup heartbreak.
Yet, irrespective of the outcome, the match will occupy a special place in cricket history.
When the India and England players walk through the Long Room and step onto the Lord's turf in their Test whites, they will not merely be starting another international match.
They will become the first women to play Test cricket at the Home of Cricket - and their names will forever remain part of Lord's history.
