‘Brilliant’ advert for game

HEATHER Knight hailed a “brilliant” advert for Women’s Test cricket after India’s tremendous ninth-wicket partnership scuppered England’s chances of winning the standalone Test match at Bristol.

Sneh Rana and Taniya Bhatia’s 104-run stand secured the draw for the visitors and brought an end to England’s hopes of a first Test victory on home soil since 2005.

The players shook hands on the draw with 12 overs remaining in the day, with India 344 for eight in their second innings and leading by 179 runs.

Both sides took two points each from the game, with two points available from each of the following one-day internationals and T20 matches.

Across the four days, which many would argue was not enough once the rain delay had caused an impact on day three, it raised the question as to why there are so few women’s red ball games.

“I think it’s been a brilliant advert,” Knight said after the game’s conclusion. “It’s almost a shame it (day four) fizzled out a little bit, it was set up to be very good and very exciting, but I think it’s been a brilliant advert.

“We’ve had some great skill on show, some exciting youngsters come in from both sides and play outstandingly, Sophie Ecclestone, Shafali Verma, and Sophia Dunkley on debut.”

The Rachael Heyhoe Flint trophy has been at the forefront so far this summer, with a domestic T20 competition also due to start and The Hundred later in the summer.

England also have the rest of their series against India and a white-ball series against New Zealand.