The white-ball season may have only just concluded, but there is little time to dwell on disappointment. India and England return to action in an entirely different setting on July 10 as they trade coloured clothing for whites in a one-off Test at Lord’s, a fixture that carries far greater significance than the result alone. For the first time in history, the Home of Cricket will host a women’s Test match.
The two sides arrive in London seeking a fresh beginning. India’s T20 World Cup campaign ended earlier than expected with a group-stage exit, while hosts England were denied the title after falling to Australia in the final despite an impressive run through the tournament. Now, attention shifts to the longest format. England will also begin a new chapter under Nat Sciver-Brunt, who captains the side in a Test for the first time, while India will look to build on a remarkable record against England that has quietly tilted in their favour over the last two decades.
Recent history certainly favours Harmanpreet Kaur’s side. India thrashed England by 347 runs when the teams last met in Navi Mumbai in 2023. India have won three of the last four Tests played and have not lost to England in the format since 1995 and remain unbeaten in nine women’s Tests played on English soil. Although India were beaten by Australia in their only Test earlier this year at the WACA, they will take confidence from a side that continues to grow in red-ball cricket.
For England, it is their first Test since the Women’s Ashes defeat in Australia in January 2025 and the first opportunity for Sciver-Brunt to lead the side in the format. With Tammy Beaumont preparing for the final international appearance of a distinguished career and Lord’s opening its gates to a landmark women’s Test, there will be no shortage of storylines when the two teams walk out onto one of cricket’s most iconic stages.
Squads:
England Women’s Cricket Team
Nat Sciver-Brunt (C), Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Heather Knight, Amy Jones, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Emma Lamb, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell, Lauren Filer, Grace Potts, Issy Wong, Mady Villiers, Eleanor Threlkeld
India Women’s England Team
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Yastika Bhatia, Richa Ghosh, Sneh Rana, Sayali Satghare, Renuka Singh, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Nandni Sharma, Priya Punia
Players to watch out:
Jemimah Rodrigues
If there is one Indian batter who has quietly established herself as a dependable Test performer, it is Jemimah Rodrigues. Since making her Test debut in 2023, the middle-order batter has scored 301 runs in four matches at an average of just over 50, registering four half-centuries in seven innings. Her ability to absorb pressure was on display during India’s previous Test against Australia at the WACA, where she top-scored with 52 in the first innings despite wickets falling around her. With England expected to target India’s top order, her role at No. 4 could be pivotal in stabilising the innings.
Sayali Satghare
India unearthed a genuine pace-bowling prospect during their Test against Australia earlier this year, and Sayali Satghare will once again shoulder significant responsibility in English conditions. On her Test debut at the WACA, the Mumbai all-rounder returned figures of 4/50 in Australia’s first innings, dismissing Alyssa Healy, Georgia Voll, Alana King and Lucy Hamilton before contributing handy runs lower down the order. Lord’s has traditionally rewarded seam bowlers who can move the ball both ways, making Satghare’s ability to extract bounce and maintain disciplined lines a valuable asset. Having impressed on one pace-friendly surface already, she will be eager to make a similar impact in just her second Test appearance.
Tammy Beaumont
There could hardly be a more fitting stage for Tammy Beaumont’s final international appearance than the first-ever women’s Test at Lord’s. The experienced opener announced earlier this week that the match against India would bring the curtain down on her 17-year England career. Beaumont enters the Test with 612 runs from 11 Tests, including the historic 208 against Australia in the 2023 Ashes—the first double century by an England woman. With one final opportunity to wear the England cap, Beaumont will be determined to make a lasting contribution on one of cricket’s biggest stages.
Lauren Bell
The 24-year-old has enjoyed a steady rise in the red-ball game, claiming 18 wickets in just five Tests at an average of 24.11, with best figures of 4/27 and match figures of 8/76. Those numbers underline her ability to make an impact across long spells rather than in short bursts. Bell also heads into the Test with confidence after another productive white-ball season, having contributed to England’s attack throughout the recently concluded T20 World Cup. She has remained one of the first names on the team sheet and has developed into England’s strike seamer across formats. On a Lord’s surface expected to offer early assistance, Bell’s battle with India’s experienced top order particularly Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues after the new-ball phase could shape the course of the match.
Pitch:
Lord’s has traditionally offered plenty of assistance to fast bowlers, with the famous slope and the red ball creating ideal conditions for seam and swing, particularly with the new ball. Early movement is expected to test batters during the opening sessions, but the surface should become more batting-friendly as the match progresses. With temperatures set to remain unusually high throughout the Test, the wicket is likely to dry out gradually, bringing spinners into the contest later in the game.
Weather:
London is set to experience a rare summer heatwave throughout the four-day Test, with conditions expected to remain hot, dry and largely uninterrupted by rain. Daytime temperatures are forecast to range between 29°C and 31°C, with plenty of sunshine and only a minimal chance of precipitation across all four days.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Smriti Mandhana, Tammy Beaumont, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Charlotte Dean, Sneh Rana, Lauren Bell, Sophie Ecclestone, Sayali Satghare
Match Details:
Date – July 10, 2026
Time – 3:30 PM IST
Venue – Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
Broadcast – Fans in India can watch the historic one-off Test live on the Sony Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on Sony LIV and. For viewers in the UK Sky Sports will be telecasting the match.
Loves all things female cricket