India, England to contend in first-ever Women’s Test at Lord’s in 2026

In a historic announcement, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) revealed that Lord's will host its first-ever women's Test match in 2026. This momentous event will see England take on India in a one-off Test, marking a significant milestone for women's cricket in the country.

While Lord's has previously welcomed women's cricket, those games have all been in the white-ball format. The upcoming Test match will be the first of its kind at this prestigious venue.

Expressing his excitement to the media, the ECB's Chief Executive Officer, Richard Gould, said, “India women will return in 2026 to take on England women in the first-ever women’s Test match at Lord’s. It will be a truly special occasion, and one of real significance.”

The announcement follows a memorable encounter between India and England in December 2023, where India triumphed by a staggering 347 runs in a one-off Test held at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. The match underscored India's growing dominance in the longer format of the game, having also faced England, South Africa, and Australia in Tests over the past three years.

Before the Test at Lord's, the Indian women's team is set to tour England in 2025 for a white-ball series. This series will feature five T20Is, beginning on June 28 in Nottingham, and concluding with the final match on July 12, also in Nottingham.

The teams will then face off in a three-match ODI series, starting on July 16 and wrapping up on July 22. Notably, these matches will run concurrently with the men’s red-ball series, adding to the excitement of the summer.