Top 3 all-time run-scorers in Women’s Tests

Test cricket has been the purest format of the game since its beginning. However, it is still the least-played format in Women’s cricket. There can be various reasons for this like, cricket boards don’t want to invest in it due to low returns or the lack of the technique to play the red-ball cricket. The first-ever Women’s Test match was played between England and Australia in 1943 where England won by 9 wickets. Since then, only 144 Test matches have been played in Women’s cricket till now. Despite this, there have been several women cricketers who have dominated in the longest format of the game. England have been one of the top teams in Women’s Test cricket and it can be seen in the list of highest run-getters where the top three names are from England. Let’s have a look at the top three run-scorers in the history of Women’s Test cricket.

3. R Heyhoe-Flint

Rachael Heyhoe-Flint played for England from 1960 to 1982.  She has appeared in the 22 Tests and 23 ODIs and remains the third-highest run-getter in the longest format. Flint has scored 1594 runs from 38 Test innings at an average of 45.54 including 10 half-centuries and three hundred. She was one of the first women admitted to the MCC, and in 2004, she went on to become the first woman to get elected to the full committee. Unfortunately, she died in 2017 at the age of 77.

2. Charlotte Edwards

The second name in the list is of another English batter, Charlotte Marie Edwards. She is the second youngest women cricketer to play for England after she made her debut against New Zealand at the age of 16. In her career of 20 years, she has appeared in 23 Tests, 191 ODIs, and 95 T20Is. Playing all three formats, Edwards still stands in the second position in the list of highest run scorers in the longest format having amassed 1676 runs in 43 innings at an average of 44.10 including nine fifties and four centuries. She retired from the game in 2016 and went on to take the duties of coaching and commentary. 

1. Janette Ann Brittin

One of the finest women cricketers England have ever produced. Janette Brittin tops the chart of the highest run-scorer in red-ball cricket and no one is close to her even after 25 years after her retirement. Appearing in 27 Tests, Brittin has scored 1935 runs with an average of 49.61 including 11 fifties and five centuries. She was also part of the England team that won the Women’s World Cup in 1993. Unfortunately, she left the world in 2017 due to cancer at the age of 58. In 2019, she was inducted to the Apex Cricket Council’s Hall of Fame.