Ahead of a day-night Test at the WACA ground, India sought some inspiration as they aim to rebound from an ODI whitewash and draw the multi-format series against Australia, who have taken an 8-4 lead.India players and coaching staff received the necessary spark after rewatching snippets of India’s historic eight-wicket win over Australia at the Wankhede Stadium in December 2023.It was their first Test victory over Australia, ending a barren run of ten matches without success stretching back to 1977. “We just watched it before coming in…got those memories back and a lot of intel from there and data collected,” India head coach Amol Muzumdar told reporters.
“We will take a lot of positives out of it. I mean, that’s the first time we have beaten Australia in a Test match. But at the same time, we just have to play good cricket. We’re here to entertain and play good cricket.”
Conditions will be much more different at the WACA ground, where its surface is no longer fast and bouncy like its heyday but remains, nonetheless, seam-friendly and difficult for batters, especially early in red-ball matches.
While their batters will face an initiation, India’s pace attack is shorthanded without Renuka Singh, who will miss the match due to workload management. They’ve called upon uncapped Kashvee Gautam, while fellow seamers Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare and Amanjot Kaur have also never played at the Test level.
“There is a little bit of inexperience, but I think they’re capable enough,” Muzumdar said of the pace attack. “Sayali is very experienced as far as domestic cricket is concerned. For international cricket, they’re pretty young, but very exciting talent that we have.”
“Test matches are special and if we can manage to do it [win the Test] here it will be even more special.”
Amol Muzumdar
While a daunting challenge awaits, India are excited about a return to the Test arena since their ten-wicket victory against South Africa in Chennai in June 2024. Underlining the dearth of women’s Test matches, India have only played 42 matches overall since their first in 1976.
India have won their last three Test matches, but all were played in the comforts of home. Their last overseas Test was in October 2021 when they had the better of a drawn pink-ball Test against Australia on the Gold Coast.
“We have always maintained in the group that Test matches are the real format,” Muzumdar said. “We’re really excited to play a Test match in Perth and also at Lord’s in four months.”
India started the tour with a stirring 2-1 triumph in the T20I leg, but the 50-over champions were overwhelmed in the ODI slate in a result that ended their hopes of winning the multi-series format outright.
A Test match upset at the WACA, however, will ensure a drawn overall series – 8-8 on the points system – in what would prove a major fillip for Indian women’s cricket.
“The tour has been really good. Not many teams have come here and won a T20 series in Australia. We are really proud of the entire squad,” Muzumdar said. “Preparations for the Test have been fantastic. Test matches are special and if we can manage to do it [win the Test] here it will be even more special.”
