Lord's braced for historic Test as England and India face off

England suffered a heartbreaking seven-wicket defeat to Australia in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup final at Lord's, but they have the chance to write new headlines at the 'Home of Cricket' less than a week later.

Female spectators were barred from the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the pavilion at Lord's until March 1999 - now, just under 30 years later, Nat Sciver-Brunt is set to walk down those famous steps and lead her side out for the first ever women's Test match at cricket's most iconic venue against India.

So - who is playing? What are England's chances? And - more importantly - why has it taken this long? We answer all your questions ahead of the weekend's historic Test match...

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Why is this Test historic?

The Test comes exactly 50 years after Rachael Heyhoe Flint led her side out for the first England women's match at Lord's and represents significant progress in the prioritisation of the women's game.

Since the inaugural women's Ashes in 1934, England have played 55 Tests at 19 venues across the country - including the Kia Oval on numerous occasions - but never at Lord's.

In June 2023, the Independent Commission for Equality in Cricket issued a report lambasting the "truly appalling" lack of Women's Test matches at Lord's - three years later, that report appears to have led to a change in attitude from the MCC, as England's women will take centre stage in north west London 142 years after the men's first Test match.

"It's a historic Test match for us as a group and for the Indian team," England coach Charlotte Edwards emphasised.

"We can't wait to play in front of a lot of people over the four days."

What is England's record against India in Tests?

For the last time that England beat India in a Test match, you have to go to back 1995, when their only ever win in 15 tries came in a thriller in Jamshedpur that England won by just two runs.

They've recorded three losses and 11 draws in their other contests, most recently being on the receiving end of a heavy defeat in India in December 2023, losing by 347 runs after getting skittled for 136 and 131 in their respective innings.

England last played India on home soil in 2021, recording a draw after a heroic 80 not out helped India star Sneh Rana hold on for a draw in their second innings after her side posted 231 and had to follow-on in their first. The tourists, though, have not lost in nine Tests on British soil, recording two wins and seven draws.

Who is playing?

Despite England's impressive T20 World Cup campaign, Charlotte Edwards has rung the changes for her side's first longer format game of the summer.

Tammy Beaumont - who is inside England's top 20 all-time Test run scorers with 612 - returns to the side after missing out on the World Cup squad, but there is no place in the side for white-ball vice-captain Charlie Dean.

It is understood Dean's workload is being managed following a back injury during the winter with Freya Kemp and Dani Gibson also being rested as all three recover from a taxing T20 World Cup campaign.

There are a group of players boasting a huge range of experience behind Sciver-Brunt - from Somerset's Heather Knight looking to play in her 15th Test, to Surrey duo Alice Capsey and Tilly Corteen-Coleman and Durham's Mady Villiers hoping to make their Test debuts.

How do I watch?

Watch the first-ever women's Test at Lord's, between England and India, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10am on Friday (11am first ball), with coverage continuing every day on the same channel until Monday July 13. Stream cricket and more top sport contract free with NOW.