Lord's Changes Forever: The First Women's Test Match in History

Lord's Changes Forever: The First Women's Test Match in History Lords will finally host their first women's test match on Friday, 10th July. The venue hosted the first men's test match in 1884 and now 142 years later, the England women's team will face the Indian women's team for a 4 day match. Just over 50 years have passed since England defeated Australia by eight wickets in a one-day international on August 4, 1976, marking the first women's match of any sort to take place at the storied London stadium. England’s captain at Lord’s that day was the late Rachael Heyhoe Flint, a pioneering figure in a women’s game where players were still wearing skirts rather than white or coloured trousers, as they do now. Heyhoe Flint, who died in 2017, now has a gate named after her at Lord’s. But in 1976, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the owners of Lord’s, were still decades away from admitting women as members, with the thought of females walking directly through the Long Room of the pavilion before taking the field a distant dream. England’s No 5 that day, Megan Lear, compared the experience to the moon landing, telling The Guardian: “On that day in 1976, to walk on to the hallowed turf at Lord’s, it was like one small step for us women cricketers, but one giant leap towards the future of women’s cricket.” It is a sign of how things have changed from those amateur days that a Test between two professional sides will also be England’s second fixture at Lord’s in less than a week, following Sunday’s defeat by Australia in the women’s T20 World Cup final – a match that attracted a capacity crowd. Now, history will be made with this test match. India and England women’s teams will want the fans to get their money’s worth. With this match, they can prove that women’s test matches are no less entertaining than the men’s Welcome to XtraTime, your ultimate sports hub where passion meets action! Stay updated with dynamic coverage of cricket, football, kabaddi, hockey, and more – from IPL thrillers to global tournaments. We go beyond the game, bringing you exclusive stories of sports stars, their triumphs, challenges, and personal journeys. With real-time updates, expert insights, and behind-the-scenes scoops, we keep you ahead of the game. At XtraTime, fans take the spotlight! Share your voice, post comments, and join the hottest sports debates. Hit subscribe and never miss the next big moment. For more content follow us on - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/xtratimesports/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/xtratime.sports/ Twitter - https://x.com/xtratimeindia/