India-W vs England-W, Only Test 2023: Match preview, playing XI, Head to Head, Where to Watch on TV & Live Streaming Details

India and England are all set to play a one-off Test match at the DY Patil Stadium, in Navi Mumbai, starting Thursday, December 14.

This is the first women's Test that is going to be played in India since 2014. Only Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, from the current Indian team, played in the game against South Africa. This is also going to be India's first Test since the retirement of the legendary duo of Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj. India played their last Test match against Australia, in Carrara, in 2021. India managed to draw the game which was played with a pink ball.

England have played Test cricket more recently. In June 2023, they faced Australia, in Nottingham, and lost by 89 runs. That encounter saw stunning performances from Tammy Beaumont and Sophie Ecclestone. The former became the first English woman to score a double hundred in Test matches. Ecclestone, on the other hand, picked up five-fors in both innings. They will have an important role to play in Navi Mumbai.

England will enter the contest on the back of a 2-1 series win in the T20Is. It must have given Heather Knight and Co. a great amount of confidence heading into the highly-anticipated red-ball clash.

DY Patil Stadium Pitch Report

DY Patil Stadium hasn't hosted any Test match as yet. However, it can be expected that the pitch won't be too different from the ones usually prevalent in the country. The first couple of days could be good for batting, but as the game progresses, spinners will find more assistance and become more effective. If a rank-turner greets the two teams, England wouldn't be too concerned as they have one of the finest spinners in the current generation in Ecclestone. The captain who wins the toss should opt to bat first as batting in the fourth innings is a difficult proposition in the subcontinent.

ND-W vs ENG-W Probable Playing XI, England Tour of India

India-W (IND)

For India, it will be crucial for their experienced duo of Harmanpreet and Mandhana to fire on all cylinders. Jemimah Rodrigues has been in sensational form and Indian fans will hope for a strong performance from her. Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Deepti Sharma will be in charge of the spin department.

Predicted XI: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Yastika Bhatia/Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh, Saika Ishaque

England-W (ENG)

England have a very strong side that has players who can adapt to all kinds of surfaces. The spin-bowling duo of Charlie Dean and Ecclestone will have to bowl a lot of overs. It would be interesting to see how they complement each other.

Predicted XI: Emma Lamb, Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight (C), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophia Dunkley, Danni Wyatt, Amy Jones (WK), Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Lauren Bell

IND-W vs ENG-W Only Test Head-to-Head Records:

IND-W vs ENG-W Only Test Broadcast details: