Indian women to play maiden pink ball Test during Australia tour this year
New Delhi, May 20: The Indian women's cricket team will compete in its maiden day-night Test from September 30 to October 3 when it tours Australia this year.
The match will be played in Perth, which hasn't hosted a day-night game as yet, Cricket Australia said after BCCI secretary Jay Shah Shah made the initial announcement.
"Taking forward our commitment towards women's cricket, I am extremely pleased to announce that Team India @BCCIwomen will play in their first-ever pink ball day-night Test later this year in Australia," Shah tweeted.
The Indian women's team, which will play its first Test in seven years from June 16 in England, will compete in another one during the tour of Australia.
The team will also play three ODIs (from September 19 to 24) and as many T20 International matches (from October 7 to 11) Down Under.
India last played a Test against Australia in 2006.
The pink ball Test between India and Australia will be only the second such match to be held in the history of women's cricket.
The only day-night women's game played so far was between Australia and England at Sydney in November 2017. The match ended in a draw.
Preparing for both the England and Australia Test will be a challenge since the women don't play with red ball even on the domestic circuit.
"It will be a challenge for sure but the good thing is that women are getting to play Tests," a former India player said.
"The pink ball game in Australia will be a tougher challenge as the girls have never played with that ball but I am sure they will get to prepare well for it. A few practice games will also be needed," she added.
England and Australia are the only two teams which regularly play Test cricket, mainly against each other in the Women's Ashes.
Going forward, India will also be seen playing the longest format against the two teams.
"As players, we've said for a long time that we'd love to play more Test matches," Australia captain Meg Lanning said on Wednesday.
"It's an exciting prospect and I know (India) are heading over to England to play a Test match pretty soon so it shows they're up for the challenge and really willing to play that format."
The Schedule:
Sep 19: First ODI, North Sydney Oval (D/N)
Sep 22: Second ODI, Junction Oval
Sep 24: Third ODI, Junction Oval
Sep 30: Oct 3: Day/Night Test match, WACA Ground (D/N)
Oct 7: First T20, North Sydney Oval
Oct 9: Second T20, North Sydney Oval
Oct 11: Third T20, North Sydney Oval. - PTI
