ECB apologise for one-off India England women's Test being played on used pitch

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) apologised to players of India and England ahead of their one-off women’s Test match. The reason? The pitch on which said Test match will be played. The pitch in question hosted a T20 Blast game between Sussex and Gloucestershire. Given how pitches disintegrate in Test cricket, it is hardly ideal to play on a used surface. Efforts were made to change the strip but to no avail. As a result, India’s first Test match in seven years will begin in less than ideal settings.

“We are all disappointed that the wicket for the Test match against India will have had 37 overs played on it. We know that England Women deserve a fresh wicket and we are sorry that we were unable to provide that in this instance,” said the ECB.

On Friday, Sussex beat Gloucestershire by five wickets in a T20 Blast game that went on for 37.2 overs on the Bristol pitch where the women’s Test will be played.

The Test, first for India women in seven years and first for England women in two years, commences on Wednesday.

“With the Test only being added to the calendar in mid-April, coupled with the lack of available first-class grounds, we knew a fresh TV pitch was going to be a challenge.

“We accept that this issue shouldn’t have arisen and we will make sure it doesn’t happen in the future,” added the ECB.

How have players reacted to ECB giving used pitch?

England women’s team captain Heather Knight said it wasn’t ideal to play on a used wicket.

“I guess it is obviously not ideal. We would much prefer to be on a fresh one but it is what it is. And we do not know how it is going to play necessarily,” said Knight.

“We found out last week. We obviously tried to get it changed but it was a little bit too late for that to happen. It is unfortunate but it still could play very well,” she added.

India skipper Mithali Raj, however, chose not to speak up on the issue.

“We are here to play a match. Whatever strip we get, we try and get a result out of it. That is our thought process,” Mithali said ahead of the match.

“Whether it is a used wicket or a fresh wicket… as players, and a captain I definitely want my team to get a result and for that it is important that we put down our strategies accordingly.”

Big deal for India, England

Nevertheless, it is worth noting that this remains a big day for both sides. Test matches for women’s cricketers aren’t that common, meaning the players are relishing the chance to don the whites.

Mithali revealed that players actually trained in Test whites prior to the game.

“There were a few sessions that we tried to have in the whites so that the girls don’t get sort of jolted when they walk onto the ground tomorrow in the whites because for most of them it was their first time getting into the whites and getting onto the ground,” Mithali said.

“That is one thing that he [coach Ramesh Powar] tried to get into the sessions. There were four-five sessions where we trained together as a team in whites,” she said.

The Indian women are playing a Test match for the first time in seven years. The last time they played was in November 2014, when they beat South Africa in Mysore.

“Clearly from the last Test it has been seven years and seven years have been more of the white ball game and a lot more players in the side have faced [only] the white ball. But again, it comes down to the mind-set,” said Mithali.

“Last week or so, we have tried to get as many sessions as we can for the batters and bowlers to face and get used to the red ball and the movement. At the end day, the mind-set with which you play is what matters.”

Once again, the Indian women will play two Tests in a year. After this Test, they will tour Australia in September-October for the pink-ball Test.

Interestingly, this is also the first time the Indian women are playing a full series against England.