Harmanpreet calls for 'many more Test matches' in future

The rarity of women's Test cricket remains a talking point even as India prepare to play England in the first-ever women's Test at Lord's. Since the start of 2021, only four teams - Australia, England, India and South Africa - have played the format, with just 13 Tests staged across five-and-a-half years before this week's fixture. India captain Harmanpreet Kaur said players naturally want more opportunities in the longest format, but believes the game is moving in the right direction.

"As a cricketer, we definitely want to be part of many Test matches. But I think that's totally the higher authorities' call," Harmanpreet said on the eve of the Lord's Test. "Till now, I have seen all the highs and lows, and I have seen women's cricket growing all these years. I think we are in the right hands, and they're the right ones to take the call.

"But if you ask me as a player, I definitely want to play lots of cricket and don't want to sit at home doing nothing. We are enjoying our time, we are quite busy, and in between we are getting opportunities. Last March also we played one Test and now tomorrow we're going to get one more Test. I think things are going the right way and hopefully, in future, we'll see many more Test matches coming up."

Harmanpreet also stressed the importance of strengthening the domestic red-ball structure, saying regular first-class cricket would better equip players for the demands of Test cricket.

"We do need domestic red-ball cricket because earlier we used to have it, but now we play a lot of white-ball cricket. We shifted more towards the white-ball game," she said. "Now the board is showing so much interest in red-ball cricket and definitely we are going to get back our domestic competition.

"These Test matches are very important and I would love to have some more time to prepare as a team. Last time when domestic cricket was played, many of us weren't there because we were playing international cricket, but some of the girls got that opportunity. If we get some good quality time to prepare and then go there and execute ourselves, that can be more practical. Whatever is in our hands, we are just trying to do our best."

The India captain described playing a women's Test at Lord's as a dream come true, saying she was surprised to learn that the venue had never hosted one before. "It's a very big moment for all of us. As a captain and as a player, I'm really looking forward to this opportunity," Harmanpreet said. "As kids, we always dream about playing Test matches and playing at Lord's is one of those dreams. I'm so happy that we got this opportunity. All the girls are very excited and, as a team, we're really looking forward to it."

She added: "We were discussing that after so many years this match is finally happening. It took us so many years to feel that women can also be part of a Test match at Lord's. I wasn't aware of this, and I was surprised. But I look at it this way - maybe it's late, but not too late. I'm still playing and still getting this opportunity to be part of this historic day. I'm really looking forward to it."

India head into the one-off Test looking to bounce back from the disappointment of an early exit at the Women's T20 World Cup, with Harmanpreet saying the dressing room had quickly shifted its focus to the red-ball challenge.

"It was a very hard moment for all of us because we really prepared hard for the World Cup, but unfortunately we didn't give our best," she said. "This Test match was something which kept us very excited. We all came together as a group and wanted to give our best for this match. Right now everyone looks in a good space and hopefully we'll enjoy our cricket."

India have won their last two Tests against England and Harmanpreet believes the side's confidence in the format remains high despite the infrequency with which it is played.

"Our last two Tests have been very, very good for us and we've always played good cricket against them," she said. "It's only about giving your best and going with a good frame of mind. We all decided to stay together and just give our best. We may not be that used to playing Test matches, but we enjoy them so much. Even during the photoshoot yesterday, everybody was so excited wearing the white kit. That excitement is there. Now it's only about going out there and enjoying ourselves."