(Cricket news) India will take on Australia in their first ever pink ball Test from 20th to 24th September. This will also be only the 2nd time that India and Australia will play a Test match against each other, the first one being way back in 1991. The match comes just 3 months after the Test against England is a big step forward by the BCCI in introducing more frequent red ball and pink ball matches for the women.

Possible playing XIs

India: Shefali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Poonam Raut, Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur, Shikha Pandey, Deepti Sharma, Tanya Bhatia, Sneh Rana, Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana.

It is very likely that India makes no changes to the lineup after the performance in England. Sneh Rana, Shefali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Tanya Bhatia, Poonam Raut and Smriti Mandhana played well in that game. There are still question marks over the fitness of Harmanpreet Kaur who missed all 3 ODIs. The other members of the squad include Jemimah Rodrigues, Yastika Bhatia, Meghna Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav, Richa Ghosh, Ekta Bisht. 

Also read: 3 takeaways from from Indian Women's performance in W-ODI series against Australia

Australia: Beth Mooney, Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia  McGrath, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham, Hannah Darlington, Darcie Brown

Vice captain Rachael Haynes has been ruled out of the match due an injury she suffered in the 3rd ODI. Alyssa Healy alongside Beth Mooney should open the batting if Australia bat first. There is a chance that Healy might bat in the middle order if Australia bat second due to her wicket keeping duties. Other members of the squad include Maitlan Brown, Stella Campbell, Georgia Redmayne, Molly Strano, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham.

India's last Test was against England in June which they dramatically drew despite being enforced with a follow on. The match before that was way back in 2014 against South Africa. India played 5 debutants in that game against England but still managed to rescue the Test match in challenging English conditions. Australia on the other hand play a one off Test in the Women's Ashes every two years. The last one was in 2019 which ended in a draw due to heavy rain. 

The match will be a 4 day pink ball Test at the Metricon Stadium in Carrara. Australia will be heavy favourites without question but it will be a great learning experience for the Indians. If the end result is a draw, then the debate about Women's Tests having a 5th day will definitely be reignited and fuelled.