Dunkley relishing the prospect of putting herself to the Test in this Indian summer

ENGLAND youngster Sophia Dunkley hailed the “exciting” announcement the women’s team will begin the summer with their first Test match against India in more than seven years.

The longest format of the game has been on the periphery of the women’s cricketing landscape, with just eight Test matches in the past decade - of which six were Ashes clashes.

England and India have not played each other in the format since 2014 but Bristol’s County Ground is set to host a four-day clash on June 16.

Dunkley, pictured inset, said: “Playing Test cricket is a very rare occurrence in the women’s game so I think it is exciting that people want to see women’s Test cricket.

“It is a really exciting direction. I know quite a lot of the girls have not played a lot of

Test cricket but to have the opportunity to play the historic game of cricket, is very exciting. “I have not played very much in the past but it is something I would love to do.

“The men get to play Test cricket all the time and it is such a renowned format of cricket in the men’s game.

“So to have the opportunity to put some whites on and play cricket for four or five days would be incredible.”

The Test match is the first of 15 matches for Lisa Keightley’s side, India staying on for six whiteball games before New Zealand arrive for three Twenty20s and five one-day games. With the Hundred already scheduled to open with a women’s game, the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, and the tours against India and New Zealand it will be a busy summer for those involved across the formats.

Dunkley added: “I am really excited. I think it really shows there is a lot of good cricket around in the country.

“If you are not playing for England you are still playing good-quality cricket and still showcasing what you can do.

“Especially with the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, we saw Tash Farrant play for England again this winter from her performances in the Trophy so it shows how influential it can be and the Hundred is going to be amazing.

“I think with the opportunities we are going to have this summer it is going to be great, very busy but very, very exciting.”

This year will also be the first full domestic summer since the England and Wales Cricket Board decided to offer professional deals to 41 players as part of regional hubs to boost competition at the top level.