Daijiworld Media Network - London

London, Jul 9: India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has urged cricket administrators to schedule more red-ball matches for the women's team, saying players are eager for greater exposure to Test cricket ahead of the one-off Test against England at the iconic Lord's.

The match will be only the seventh Test played by the Indian women's team since 2020, compared with 58 Tests played by the Indian men's team during the same period.

While the women's calendar has expanded significantly in white-ball cricket, opportunities to play Test matches remain limited. The lengthy gaps between red-ball fixtures also result in extended off-season breaks, while domestic cricket continues to focus largely on limited-overs formats, leaving players with little preparation for Test cricket.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Harmanpreet said she would welcome more opportunities to play the longest format but acknowledged that the decision ultimately rests with the sport's governing authorities.

"As a cricketer, we definitely want to be part of many Test matches. But I think that's totally the higher authorities' call. Till now, I have seen all the highs and lows, and I have seen women's cricket growing all these years. I think we are in the right hands, and they're the right ones to take the call," she said.

The Indian skipper added that players preferred staying active rather than spending long periods away from competitive cricket.

"If you ask me as a player, I definitely want to play lots of cricket and don't want to sit at home doing nothing. We are enjoying our time, we are quite busy, and in between, we are getting opportunities. Last March, we also played one Test, and now tomorrow we're going to get one more Test. I think things are going the right way and hopefully, in future, we'll see many more Test matches coming up," Harmanpreet said.

The upcoming fixture will also be a historic occasion, marking the first time the Indian women's team will play a Test match at Lord's.

Describing the opportunity as a dream come true, Harmanpreet said the entire squad was excited about playing at one of cricket's most iconic venues.

"It's a very big moment for all of us. As a captain and as a player, I'm really looking forward to this opportunity. As kids, we always dream about playing Test matches and playing at Lord's is one of those dreams. I'm so happy that we got this opportunity. All the girls are very excited and, as a team, we're really looking forward to it," she said.