England’s women’s cricket team is turning its focus to a historic Test match against India, scheduled to begin at Lord’s this Friday, following their runner-up finish in the Women’s T20 World Cup final on Sunday. Australia defeated England by seven wickets at Lord’s to secure their seventh title in the last ten T20 World Cup editions.

Nine players from England’s World Cup squad are selected for the Test, including captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, who is managing a left calf injury that has troubled her during the summer. Sciver-Brunt has expressed optimism about being fit to play in the match.

England head coach Charlotte Edwards welcomed the opportunity to compete in the first-ever women’s Test match held at Lord’s, describing it as a significant milestone for both England and India. “A lot of our players have been doing Test match prep throughout the T20s so we’re really looking forward to it,” Edwards said. She added that the team is eager to perform in front of a large crowd over the four-day encounter.

England’s journey in the T20 World Cup had its challenges, highlighted by a comprehensive defeat in the final. However, the team’s six consecutive wins leading up to that stage marked progress compared to their earlier exits in previous tournaments—namely, the group stage exit in 2024 and the semi-final finish in the 2025 One-Day International World Cup.

Edwards expressed satisfaction with the development of younger players, pointing out the performances of Alice Capsey, Freya Kemp, and Dani Gibson as examples of positive growth on the international stage. She acknowledged the strides made by these athletes over the past six months and emphasized that continued improvement remains a priority, offering encouragement for England’s long-term prospects.