Former Australia Women’s skipper and World Cup winner Meg Lanning believes that more Test matches need to be played on the international level in the women’s game.
Women’s tests have always been a rarity with only 147 played in the nearly 90 years since England faced Australia in the first, and they have become even scarcer since white-ball cricket started to dominate the game.
Lanning stated the need for women’s cricket to embrace Test cricket more for the growth of healthy competition in the sport, and for players themselves to develop an understanding of the longer format as well.
“I actually like the multi-format series. Test matches are interesting. I think personally we need to play more of them to be able to play them well and get used to them. I think it’s difficult to prepare for a Test match. In my career, we were playing once every two years. It takes us two days to work out how to play it and then the Test is over.”
“I think if you really want the games to be a good contest, the more matches you (need to) play and for players to understand their game a little bit more. I think we probably need to play more if that’s the case. I understand it’s difficult (for fixtures to be scheduled),” exclaimed Lanning in a presser.
Lanning’s comments about the format arrive at a period when Australia are set to play their first-ever Test match against South Africa at the WACA in February.
“Obviously with South Africa coming in, India interested in playing some Tests, I think that’s great. If that means there’ll be more Tests in the calendar, I think that’ll happen over time.”
“It’s either more, or you don’t sort of go there at all, because I think once every so often it’s really difficult as a player to play and it’s probably not going to be the best product,” added Lanning.
Lanning, one of the most decorated women’s cricketers, retired from international cricket in November 2023, but continues to play in domestic competitions.
(with inputs from agencies)
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