Heather Knight Hopes Trial Cricket ‘Becomes Standard’ in Women’s Game as England take on India in June | Cricket News

Heather Knight is hopeful that England’s home tryout match against India this summer can lead to red ball matches becoming a staple in women’s football across the world.

England play a lone test match against Australia in the Ashes series, but have not played any other team in the longest form since a loss to India in 2014, while India has spent more six years without testing.

Knight’s team will face India in Bristol from June 16-19 as they begin a summer schedule that also includes a streak of white balls against Asians and New Zealand.

England Women drew in their previous test match, against Australia in Ashes 2019

“Realistically, T20 is the format that will grow women’s football around the world, but it’s really important that we keep the cricket test going,” said England captain Knight, who scored 157 points in a test against Australia in 2013, then two halves. centuries when the parties met in 2017.

“I would love to continue playing test cricket and would love to see the multi-format series we have for The Ashes – one test match, three ODIs and three T20s – as the norm going forward. I would love to play a test match in India as well, I think that would be a big challenge.

“One of my proudest moments in an England jersey is scoring a century of testing and that says a lot about how Test cricket is viewed. « 

In this summer’s red ball game, Knight added, “It will be a very big opportunity. I think this is a great addition.

England captain Knight has one hundred and two and fifty so far in seven test matches

“Knowing that we have two test matches in nine months – the other in the ashes – is really nice because it’s usually one every two years.

“I don’t play test cricket a lot, but when I do, and the girls do, we really like him, he’s definitely rated well among the players. We enjoy the challenge of doing something we don’t do very often. « 

England’s summer timetable is spread over nine locations – Bristol, Taunton, Worcester, Northampton, Hove, Chelmsford, Leicester, Derby and Canterbury.

Lord’s – where Knight’s team beat India to a sold-out crowd in July 2017 to win the 50 Plus World Cup – is missing from this list, as are some of the county’s other big pitches.

Knight says England women should focus on selling smaller pitches rather than playing bigger pitches

Knight, who will play Home of Cricket for London Spirit during The Hundred, said: “I would love to play at Lord’s but I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed. [not to be playing there for England this summer].

“I think the women’s game works very well in smaller venues. You have big crowds in small venues that really create an atmosphere.

« Lord’s in 2017 and the MCG in 2020 [where 86,174 fans, a record attendance for a women’s cricket match, watched Australia face India in the T20 World Cup final] showed what can be done when the game is properly marketed and advertised and there is a story people follow throughout the competition.

“But if Australia played MCG every week, they wouldn’t sell it. It’s an ambition and should be pursued, but I think we are constantly selling smaller venues in England should be a target before going to bigger pitches. .  »

Ben Stokes called for the creation of a female IPL, in line with male competition

Knight also gave his backing to a women’s edition of the Indian Premier League, something England all-rounder Ben Stokes recently championed.

Knight added, “I think it was great to see Stokesy talk about the women’s IPL. The more allies we have in women’s cricket are really helping to change perceptions.

“It was great for Ben to say that and I totally agree. I think it would be amazing for the women’s game to have an IPL.

“You saw in Australia with the Big Bash – and hopefully in England with The Hundred – that having men’s and women’s competitions side-to-side is really positive for women’s football and really helps move things forward. « 

Watch England’s matches with India and New Zealand, as well as all The Hundred matches, live on Sky Sports this summer. The Men’s IPL continues in April and May on Sky Sports.