Heather Knight Lauds India-England Test As “Great Advert” For Women’s Game

English skipper Heather Knight acknowledged that the one-off Test between England and India was a prime advertisement for the game, saying she would love to see five-day Tests for women. A sensational knock from Sneh Rana saved the Test for India as England were unable to dismiss the lower order on the fourth and final day in Bristol on Saturday, as the visitors earned a hard-fought draw. At one stage India found themselves at 199/7 while following on, but the lower-order scripted a memorable fightback and Rana led the charge with her unbeaten knock of 80 and helped the Indian side in walking away with a draw as England did not even come out to bat in the second innings.

“What a brilliant game of cricket,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Knight as saying. “It was unfortunate it didn’t have the dramatic and exciting finish that it could have done but what a game of cricket.

“I think it’s almost a shame that today it fizzled out a little bit. It was set up to be very good and very exciting, but I think it’s been a brilliant advert. We’ve had some great skills on show, some youngsters come in from both sides and played outstandingly.

“It’s been a great advert and shows that women’s Test cricket has a place in the game.”

Asked whether she would be open to women playing five-day Tests, Knight wholeheartedly agreed. “I would definitely be open to it,” she said. “There’s obviously been a lot of draws in women’s cricket, in previous games, so yeah, it’s definitely something I think that should be looked at.”

Mithali Raj, the Indian captain, weighed in on five-day tests as she said, “It’s a good idea to have a five-day Test but [first] we actually have to start [having] Test matches regularly.

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“Having a Test match featuring in a series is important and then take it to five days… I understand from where she [Knight] comes. I’m okay with five-day Tests also, but I would prefer having a Test match first in a series and then take it from there.”

India are now slated to play Australia in a women’s day-night Test match. The historic Test match will be the first between the Australian and Indian women’s teams in 15 years, and India’s first-ever women’s day-night Test.