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Big picture: England Women will be playing their 100th Test. It comes just two days after the third T20I between India and England. This will be the first women’s test hosted in India since 2014 and the first women’s test in India for England since 2005. This also marks the first test for India after the retirements of Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami.
Smriti Mandhana said that India were focussing on mixing attack with defense in their training for the test. India wants to avoid being overawed by the occasion of a test match, says Smriti Mandhana. On the other hand, England has done it 99 times already and the Navi Mumbai game against India will be their 100th test.
Heather Knight, the England captain, did not reveal who would partner Tammy Beaumont at the top after Emma Lamb’s injury. The only aspect for England to choose is one middle-order spot.
India is likely to go in with Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Yastika Bhatia, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh/Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh, and Meghna Singh. With opener Lamb out injured, England’s main challenge will be around who partners Beaumont. The other spot in focus will be the second seamer’s – between Lauren Filer and Lauren Bell.
The pitch at Navi Mumbai is expected to aid spin but it will be skiddy. Both captains agree on it. The weather is expected to be pleasant in the morning but the temperature will cross the 30-degree Celsius mark in the afternoon.
Words about the teammates are always there, the excitement and nervousness when it comes to the game will be felt even by the most experienced players, says Harmanpreet Kaur. “Whoever does that role is going to be brand new. We are going to pick our best six batters that we are going to think are going to score us the most runs to try and set up the Test match.” England captain Heather Knight keeps her cards close to her chest.
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