December 28, 1934, marks a landmark day in the history of women’s cricket—the birth of Test cricket, the most prestigious and traditional format of the sport. Now celebrating its 90th anniversary, it’s time to honor the legacy of a game that has stood as the ultimate test of skill, endurance, and temperament for cricketers across generations.
The first-ever Women’s Test match took place in Brisbane, Australia, where the hosts faced England in a three-day contest. Batting first, Australia found themselves in early trouble, bowled out for a mere 47 runs. Kath Smith’s gritty 25 was the sole double-digit score in an innings that saw four players dismissed for ducks. England’s Myrtle Maclagan emerged as the star of the innings, weaving magic with the ball to take an astonishing 7 wickets for just 10 runs in her 17-over spell. Her feat remains the sixth-best bowling figure in a Women’s Test innings to this day.
Maclagan wasn’t done yet—she shone with the bat as well, scoring the first half-century in Women’s Test cricket. Her resilient 72 runs guided England to a total of 154, giving them a commanding 107-run lead by the end of the second day. For Australia, Anne Palmer countered with her own bowling brilliance, claiming 7 wickets for 18 runs in 13.2 overs, a performance that ranks as the seventh-best figure in Women’s Test history.
By the end of the second day, Australia had reached 99 but had lost half their side in their second innings. After a rest day on December 30, the Australians resumed play but were unable to recover. Essie Shevill stood tall with an unbeaten 63, but Australia folded for 138, leaving England a modest target of 32 runs to win. England chased it down in under 13 overs with the loss of just one wicket, clinching a historic victory and becoming the first winners in Women’s Test cricket.
The series saw England win the second Test as well, while the third ended in a draw. This laid the foundation for what would become one of the fiercest rivalries in women’s cricket, “The Ashes”. England and Australia, the pioneers of Women’s Test cricket, have faced each other 52 times—the most by any two teams in this format. Australia holds the upper hand with 13 wins, while England has secured 9 victories.
Over the years, England and Australia have grown into powerhouses of Women’s Test cricket. England stands as the only team to have played more than 100 Test matches (101), while Australia, with 79 matches, boasts the highest number of wins (22) in Women’s Test history.
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