Play More or Abandon Altogether In a candid expression of her views on women’s Test matches, former Australia captain Meg Lanning has called for either a more consistent scheduling of Tests or their complete abandonment. Lanning, who recently retired from international cricket after an illustrious career, emphasized the challenges posed by sporadic Test schedules and suggested that a more regular calendar or complete focus on short-format cricket would be more beneficial.
The women’s Test format remains a rarity in international cricket, with only 12 matches played worldwide over the past decade. These Tests typically involved combinations of Australia, England, India, and South Africa, while other nations have been hesitant to prioritize Tests over white-ball matches due to financial challenges and the increasing popularity of limited-overs formats.
Lanning expressed the difficulties in preparing for Test matches, stating, “It’s really difficult to prepare for a Test match. In my career, we were playing once every two years. It takes us two days to work out how to play it again, and then the Test is over.” The infrequency of Test matches creates a steep learning curve for players, impacting the quality of the game.
The Australian women’s team’s recent loss to India in a standalone Test in Mumbai highlighted the challenges posed by the unfamiliar format. Lanning, who participated in only six Test matches throughout her career, believes that a more regular schedule is necessary for players to understand and excel in the longer format. She suggested either playing more Tests or abandoning them altogether in favor of a focus on short-format cricket.
While Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley has expressed support for more women’s Tests, the current landscape features sporadic appearances, with Australia set to play their third Test in the past 12 months against South Africa in mid-February. Lanning contends that Tests should not be an afterthought to white-ball series, as it can compromise the quality and competitiveness of the matches. The debate on the frequency of women’s Test matches gained momentum when new Australia captain Alyssa Healy called for three-match Test series in the women’s game.
Lanning’s perspective aligns with the need for consistency and a more structured approach to women’s Test cricket. Reflecting on her career, Lanning acknowledged the heartening participation of South Africa and India in recent years but maintained her stance on the necessity of regular Test cricket. She remarked, “That’s great if that means there can be more Tests in the calendar, I think that’ll happen over time. But that’s where I sit on it. It’s either more or you sort of don’t go there at all because I think once every so often is pretty difficult as a player.”
While Cricket Australia plans to pay tribute to Meg Lanning’s career during the ODI series opener against South Africa, the cricketing community awaits potential changes and a more structured approach to women’s Test cricket, in line with Lanning’s insights. As discussions around the future of the format continue, the importance of a consistent and meaningful Test calendar for women’s cricket takes center stage.