One-off Test for Indian women’s team hailed by Diana Edulji, Shantha Rangaswamy

The BCCIs announcement made on International Womens Day March 8 relating to a oneoff Test match against England this year received a thumbs up from the Indian womens cricket fraternityOn Monday BCCI secretary Jay Shah tweeted On the occasion of InternationalWomensDay Irsquom pleased to announce that TeamIndia BCCIWomen will play a oneoff Test match against ECB_cricket later this year The women in blue will be donning the whites againThe Indian womens team last played in a Test match in 2014 against South Africa at Mysore which the hosts won by an innings and 34 runsThe venue of the Test match has not been announced but it could be held in England closer to the mens World Test Championship final in JuneFormer India captain Diana Edulji welcomed BCCIs initiative to restart Test cricket It is a step in the right direction and the announcement couldnt have come on a better day It is very important to have the Test format because it is a real test of skills It builds temperament and character Edulji who managed the BCCI affairs for three years as a member of the Supreme Courtappointed Committee of Administrators told middayBCCI Apex Council member Shantha Rangaswamy who led India to their firstever Test victory against West Indies at Patna in 1976 was elated on hearing that Test cricket will be back for Team India The longest format of the game needs to be played so its a welcome step I am glad the English cricket board has agreed to play one I think the BCCI may also contemplate a similar arrangement of playing at least one Test as part of a tour with Cricket Australia as they also play Test cricket We should not forget the longest format said Bangalorebased RangaswamyEdulji and Rangaswamy were confident of a good showing from Team India despite the team not having played the longest format for six yearsIf India could win a Test match in England 2014 at Worsmley with eight debutants then anything can be possible It is just a matter of time to get into the groove And even if we dont win its fine At least a start has been made said Edulji after taking her Covid19 vaccine on MondayRangaswamy said We played no international cricket when we started in 1976 There were several Doubting Thomases when we playedEveryone said oh these girls cant playrsquo And we proved every pundit wrong If we had not played well in the initial years womens cricket would have not picked up Today womens cricket has developed a solid base in IndiaYes they are not in touch so it may take time but there is nothing that cannot be overcomeThe Indian womens team have achieved five victories two each against England and South Africa and one against West Indies in 36 TestsThe eves have hardly got Test matches in a row After Indias first Test win in England in 2006 they got a game after eight years in 2014 again in EnglandRangaswamy suggested a few practice games before they tour England Looking at the tight schedule I dont know how that will be possible In an ideal scenario they should play a few three or fourday games in the buildup to the Test match she said