Calls for more Women’s Tests are growing louder, but the ICC and Cricket Boards aren’t hearing them

Over 558,000 tuned in to watch the final session of the Women's Ashes Test which was the most-watched day of a women's test on record in Australia. If that isn't a strong message to the ICC and cricket boards that more fans want more women's tests then what else will convince them. Women's cricket has come leaps and bounds over the years the one area the women's game is lagging in is test cricket. Women cricketers have been playing test cricket since 1934 there have been only 143 test matches ever played in history. But in recent times women's test matches are becoming scarcer.

The reason we see fewer test matches being played is down to many factors. The one biggest factor is that cricket boards don't want to put money and effort into women's tests and primarily want to focus on the limited-overs forms of the game to develop and promote the game in their respected countries.

Calls are growing louder for more women's tests after we witness one of the greatest test matches in the history of the women's game. The final session had it all drama, suspense and uncertainty. Both teams gave they're all with all three results still possible made for great viewing. If we give more opportunities for women to play more test matches regularly and if we see more test matches like this one then test cricket can have a future in the women's game.

Will this test match spark an increase in more test matches being played? It probably won't spark an immediate increase but it has started the debate to have more women's test matches scheduled in the future. For Australia, the next test match they will likely play will be in 2023 for the next Ashes series in England. England will likely play their next test match against South Africa in their home summer this year. The only way to see more tests being played is if teams adopt a multi-format series. This will allow teams to include a test match in the series. This will be a great way to get more countries playing test matches in the women's game.

If test matches are to have a future in the women's game what are the areas that need to improve in women's test matches. The biggest one is having five days instead of four. At the moment women's tests are scheduled for four days and after weather played a part in the recent Women's Ashes Test an extra day would be handy to ensure that more results are possible. Both captains Meg Lanning and Heather Knight have said that four days is just about right in women's tests. Lanning went on to say, "Four day matches were long enough, provided they were played on top-quality wickets, and extra time or a reserve day to cover for rain-affected matches should be investigated". Whereas Knight went on to say "The flexibility to choose between four or five days could be important when it came to encouraging nations outside of Australia, England and India to hold red-ball matches.

The other area that needs to be looked at is the type of pitches that women's test matches are being played on. You want pitches that provide a good contest between bat and ball. Doing that allows for more exciting and close test matches. The other area that needs to be explored and implemented is more opportunities for women cricketers to play multi-day cricket to improve their skills in the longer form of the game. There's often some criticism towards the tactics in women's test matches and during the final session, Lanning's tactics were questioned. This is down to a lack of experience of being in those types of situations in a test match. If women play multi-day cricket domestically then they can improve their skills in the longer format and when in those situations in test matches they will know how to handle those high-pressure moments better.

Do women's test matches have a future? I believe it does have a future and it can make a difference in the women's game. But the ICC and cricket boards need to get on board and support it. If the women's game is to develop further then we must promote test cricket. Most cricket fans are passionate about test cricket and want to see the women apply their skills to the oldest form of the game. Also, if you ask many of the players they will say they will like to play more test matches. I do hope that we see more test matches being played in the women's game. It's a long way to go until we see that happen, but if we continue to have these conversations and if the ICC and cricket boards can come together and work out a strategy then we can see more women's test matches played in the future.

The Australian fielders waiting for that catch | Women's Ashes Test Manuka Oval | Photo Source: Getty Images