Sophia Dunkley on Wednesday became the first black woman to play Test cricket for England when she was picked in the playing XI for the one-off Test against India in Bristol.
The all-rounder made her England debut at the 2018 Women's World T20 in the West Indies. She has played 15 T20Is for England since.
Earlier this month, Dunkley, the South East Stars player, was added to England Women's central contracts list for the year 2021-22. She was previously on an England rookie contract.
The 22-year-old received her cap from teammate Georgia Elwiss, who also conveyed a message from Ebony Rainford-Brent - the first Black woman to play limited overs cricket for England.
“Obviously playing Test cricket is a very rare occurrence in the women’s game so I think it’s exciting that people want to see women’s Test cricket,” Dunkley had told the PA news agency.
“It’s 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, it’s very, very exciting.”
“I’ve not played very much in the past, but it’s something that I’d love to play. Obviously, the men get to play Test cricket all the time and it’s such a renowned format of cricket in the men’s game.
Dunkley's Test call-up follows a stellar campaign in the Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy where she had scores of 104* (93) against Sunrisers and 92(111) against Western Storm.
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