India's women's team is all set to England in a historic four-day Test at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground, beginning Friday (July 10).
Ahead of the game, India head coach Amol Muzumdar urged his squad to move on from their T20 World Cup group-stage exit and focus on the landmark occasion.
England will enter the contest after finishing as runners-up to Australia in the recent Women’s T20 World Cup campaign.
Surprisingly, this is the very first women's Test match to be held at the Home of Cricket. Muzumdar described the event as a monumental milestone for the sport.
"Absolutely, I mean, but it just boggles my mind that it's just the first Test match here at Lord's, but having said that really fortunate and you know would like to extend my wishes to everyone who is involved in this. It's a great occasion and we are looking forward to it," Muzumdar told reporters on Wednesday (July 8).
"It's a dream to play a Test match for any Indian cricketer, leave alone playing at Lord's. I am sure everyone who would wear those whites would be proud of them being there at Lord's to play the Test match.
"We have always maintained this in the dressing room that we have done traditionally, we have done really well in the Test matches. Everyone was talking about the Test match at Lord's even before the World Cup started, the time is now, so I guess they will be excited about it," he added.
The India coach admitted that it took some time to come out of the World Cup disappointment, but said the squad has shifted its focus to preparing for the one-off Test against England.
"To be honest it has been a mixed bag. We had to recover from the loss. We were disappointed for sure, I mean we didn't have the best of World Cups.
"But having said that, the character of the team had to come out and we need to get out of that phase and come into the Test match preparation sooner. And I guess we have managed to do that, we had five really good days of prep, few days at Wormsley Cricket Club. A beautiful ground, just a perfect setting for the preparations and then here at Lord's. So I guess the preparation has been good and as I said excited to be here at Lord's."
Muzumdar mentioned that the coaching staff and team have discussed their flawed World Cup campaign and immediately turn their focus on the impending challenge.
"I think all we need to do is just stay in the present. What is gone we cannot change it, we know it, we have discussed about it within the squad and we can't change what has happened. All we need to do is look forward and prepare the best we can for the event ahead. So I guess that's been the talk and I am sure all of them, all the players are looking forward for the Test match. Just leave aside the disappointment and get into the present and look forward to it."
Amol Muzumdar strongly supported the introduction of more Test matches in the women's cricket circuit, emphasizing that red-ball cricket remains uniquely exciting because it tests a player's core abilities through sustained physical and mental challenges.
"Red-ball cricket is always exciting and it brings different challenges. You've got to bowl 100 overs, mind you, and it's a four-day game. 100 overs in a day.
"So, I guess, different challenges, different excitement, different, you know, ability comes to the shore. So, I guess, Test cricket will always be Test cricket. Personally, I'm...call me an old-timer, but I think, yeah, red-ball cricket brings a lot of excitement - in this squad, at least. What I've seen in the dressing room, they're all looking forward for the Test match and they're geared up for it," said Muzumdar.
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
