Smriti Mandhana. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Star India batter Smriti Mandhana has voted in favour of World Test Championship (WTC) in women’s cricket. The Indian vice-captain is currently gearing up for the one-off Test against England, scheduled to be held at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai from December 14, marking the host’s first Test match in two years.
The ICC’s (International Cricket Council) WTC initiated 2019-2021 as the first two-year cycle in men’s cricket while the women’s game does not have any such contest. It is worth noting that there is a huge distinction among women’s teams with regard to playing Tests, as only England, Australia, and India have played in the longest format, that too not very regularly.
“I would love to be a part of the World Test Championship but that is for the Boards and the ICC to decide. Having watched a lot of men’s Test cricket and championships, that (women’s WTC) would be really exciting to be a part of. But as I said, that would be their (administrators’) decision,” the 27-year-old told the media ahead of India’s training session on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, veteran England batter Tammy Beaumont contested Mandhana’s opinion, stating that it is an inopportune time for a women’s WTC given the existing disparity in terms of the number of matches played. England are coming off a six-month break, having last played Tests in the Women’s Ashes where they suffered an 89-run defeat against Australia.
“I do not think it is quite the right time, if I am honest. At the moment there are only three or four nations that are playing Test match cricket regularly and potentially (there are) only three or four governing bodies that can afford to host women’s Test cricket. That will have to be a very big investment from the ICC, I do not think they are probably willing to do it,” Beaumont said.