Women's Cricket in the Longest Format: A Growing Concern

Lack of Tests for Women's Cricket

Women's cricket is facing a significant challenge in the longest format, with many teams struggling to play a decent number of Tests. South Africa, for instance, has played only 15 Tests in its history, while England has played 100, Australia 79, and India 41.

The Problem of Limited Experience

The lack of Tests for women's cricket means that players are not getting the experience they need to develop their skills and adapt to different conditions. This is particularly true for declaration matches, which are essential for learning the game and developing a strategic mindset.

Karen Smithies: A Pioneer for Women's Cricket

Karen Smithies, a former England captain, has spoken out about the need for more Tests for women's cricket. She believes that the lack of experience is a major obstacle for women players and that they need to play more declaration matches to develop their skills.

The Importance of Declaration Matches

Smithies emphasizes the importance of declaration matches in developing a player's skills and strategic mindset. She believes that players need to learn how to adapt to different conditions and develop a game plan to succeed in Test cricket.

The Financial Challenge

Lack of funding is often cited as a reason for the paucity of women's Tests. However, Smithies argues that this is not the only reason and that there are other factors at play, such as the lack of public interest and the limited revenue generated by women's Tests.

A Call to Action

The article concludes by highlighting the need for more Tests for women's cricket and the importance of developing a strategic mindset through declaration matches. It also emphasizes the need for greater public interest and support for women's cricket to ensure its growth and development.

Key Statistics

• South Africa has played only 15 Tests in its history.
• England has played 100 Tests, Australia 79, and India 41.
• Women's cricket in the 2025-29 FTP features just 15 Tests.
• Men's cricket in the 2023-27 FTP features 173 Tests.