England and India to play first-ever Women's Test at Lord's
India and England are set to play the inaugural women's Test match at the iconic Lord's, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Thursday. The England women's team, who last played at Lord's five years ago in a one-day match against India in 2006, will see the Indian women's team make their debut at the historic venue.
"Playing at Lord's is every cricketer's dream," England opener Caroline Atkins told BBC Sport. "It has been India's dream to play at the home of cricket, and I believe the timing couldn't be better," said Gill McConway, the ECB's executive director of Women's Cricket. Notably, the MCC, which owns Lord's, only began allowing female members in 1999.
ECB Confirms ODI Series Schedule
The ECB confirmed that after a three-match ODI series between India and England in July 2025, India will return in 2026 for a one-off Test at Lord's. This will be the first women's Test match ever held at the ground. "I'm also delighted to confirm that India Women will return in 2026 to face England Women in this historic Test match at Lord's. It will be a truly special occasion and a significant milestone," ECB CEO Richard Gould said.
The ODI series is scheduled for September 2, 4, and 7 at Headingley, Lord's, and Southampton. England Women have played several white-ball matches at Lord's over the past three years, with another scheduled next year, but this will mark the first time the ground has hosted a Women's Test match. To date, India Women have played nine Tests against England on English soil since June 1986, with their most recent encounter at Bristol in June 2021 ending in a draw.
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