Lord’s is set to make history as it hosts its first-ever women’s Test match when England take on India in a four-day contest beginning on Friday, July 10. Widely regarded as the “Home of Cricket,” the iconic venue will stage a women’s Test for the first time, 142 years after hosting its inaugural men’s Test in 1884, marking a significant milestone for the sport.
The long wait for a women’s Test at Lord’s traces back to the traditions of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which remained a men-only institution for more than two centuries. The upcoming England-India fixture represents an important step in the evolution of women’s cricket, bringing the longest format of the women’s game to one of the sport’s most historic grounds for the first time.
England vs India to Mark Historic First Women’s Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground
Lord’s Cricket Ground will host its first-ever women’s Test when England take on India in a four-day match beginning on Friday, ending a 142-year wait since the venue staged its first men’s Test. India head coach Amol Muzumdar welcomed the occasion, saying, “It just boggles my mind that it is just the first (women’s) Test match here at Lord’s. It is a great occasion, and we are looking forward to it.”
The match also marks 50 years since Lord’s staged its first women’s international fixture, when England defeated Australia by eight wickets in a One-Day International on August 4, 1976. It comes exactly five decades after Rachael Heyhoe Flint captained England in the venue’s first women’s match, highlighting the growing recognition of women’s cricket at one of the sport’s most iconic grounds.
England have played 55 women’s Test matches at 19 venues since the first Women’s Ashes in 1934, but none had been held at Lord’s until now. A 2023 report by the Independent Commission for Equality in Cricket criticised the lack of women’s Tests at the venue, and the upcoming fixture is widely seen as a significant step forward. England head coach Charlotte Edwards said, “It’s a historic Test match for us as a group and for the Indian team. We can’t wait to play in front of a lot of people over the four days.”
Interesting Historical Facts About Lord’s Cricket Ground
Lord’s Cricket Ground has witnessed several important milestones in the growth of women’s cricket. In July 2026, the iconic venue is set to host its first-ever women’s Test match as England take on India, marking a historic moment for the sport. The ground’s first women’s international came much earlier in 1976, when Rachael Heyhoe Flint captained England against Australia in a one-day international. Another significant change came in 1999, when the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) changed its rules to allow female spectators and non-members access to the famous Pavilion.
In recent years, Lord’s has continued to expand its support for women’s cricket. The venue has committed to hosting at least one women’s international match every year until 2031, highlighting its focus on growing the women’s game. It has also staged major events, including the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup final, where England defeated India in front of a record crowd.
Everything You Need to Know Before England vs India Women’s Test at Lord’s
Friday’s match between England and India will be the first women’s Test ever played at Lord’s, ending a 142-year wait since the ground hosted its inaugural men’s Test. England Women have previously played 55 Tests across 19 venues since 1937, making Lord’s the 20th ground to stage one of their Test matches.
Both teams enter the match after mixed recent results. India failed to reach the semifinals of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup and suffered a 10-wicket defeat to Australia in their only Test of the year. England, meanwhile, reached the T20 World Cup final but lost to Australia and have not played a Test since January 2025. Despite the gap between Test appearances, India have enjoyed the better recent record in the format, including a dominant 347-run victory over England in Navi Mumbai in 2023.
The head-to-head record also favours India. They have won three of their last four women’s Tests against England and remain unbeaten against them in the format since 1995. India have also never lost a women’s Test in England, recording two wins and seven draws. Their most recent Test victory in England came in 2014 at Wormsley, where several players made their Test debuts, including Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur. Ahead of the Lord’s Test, the Indian team also held training sessions at the same venue in Wormsley.
Complete Squads for India Women’s Historic Test Against England Women
India: Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Yastika Bhatia, Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh, Priya Punia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Renuka Singh, Kranti Gaud, Nandani Sharma, Shree Charani, Sayali Satghare
England: Nat Sciver-Brunt, Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Amy Jones, Eleanor Threlkeld, Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Mady Villiers, Lauren Bell, Lauren Filer, Grace Potts, Issy Wong
