Women's Test cricket

Women's Test cricket is the long form of women's international cricket. Most of the matches are scheduled to last four days, which is one day less than men's Test matches. Women also play one-day international cricket. Unlike their male counterparts the players are amateurs, but the sport has a fairly high profile compared to other women's team sports in several countries.

The first women's Test match was played by England and Australia in the 1934-35 season. By 2007 ten teams had played women's Test matches, as follows:

*Australia
*England
*India
*Ireland
*The Netherlands
*New Zealand
*Pakistan
*South Africa
*Sri Lanka
*West Indies

The Netherlands played their first Test in July 2007 against South Africa. The Netherlands gained Test status when it was announced by the ICC that the top ten ranked women's sides would have Test and ODI status.

Records

* Highest individual innings: 242 by Kiran Baluch for Pakistan v West Indies at Karachi, 2003/04
* Best bowling: 8-53 by Neetu David for India v England at Jamshedpur, 1995/96

ee also

* Women's one-day international cricket

External links

* [http://www.ycb-yca.org.uk/a_history_of_womens_cricket.html A History of Women's Cricket]
* [http://users.skynet.be/hermandw/cricket/wtrhist.html A history of Women's Test Cricket, including unofficial rankings]
* [http://www.cricketwoman.net/portal Cricketwoman]