Hunting in pairs
122 The eighth-wicket partnership between Deepti Sharma and Pooja Vastrakar at the Wankhede Stadium in the first innings is the highest for any wicket from eight to ten by any side against Australia in Women’s Test cricket. It was only the second 100-plus stand against Australian women in a Test by a lower-order pair.
Highest partnership for wickets 8 to 10 against Australia in Women Tests
Runs | Wkt | Pair | For | Venue | Month, Year | Result |
122 | 8th | Deepti Sharma & Pooja Vastrakar | Ind | Mumbai WS | Dec 2023 | Won |
100 | 9th | Heather Knight & Sophie Ecclestone | Eng | Canberra | Jan 2022 | Drawn |
87 | 8th | Carol Marett & Jill Saulbrey | NZ | Wellington | Mar 1975 | Drawn |
85 | 10th | Katherine Sciver-Brunt & Isha Guha | Eng | Worcester | Aug 2005 | Won |
Note:
Only one other partnership of 156 runs, but for the seventh wicket between England’s Heather Knight and Laura Marsh in Wormsley in August 2013 (drawn), has exceeded the Deepti-Pooja effort for a lower-order pair.
2 The number of women batters to register a score of fifty-plus in each of their first four Test matches of their careers. Deepti Sharma, in the only Women’s Test match against Australia at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, emulated Australian Denise Alderman (sister of former Aussie pacer Terry Alderman) during her career-best knock of 78 in the first innings on 22 December 2023. A fifty in her next Test match will mean that Deepti will keep this record all to herself.
Women batters scoring a fifty in each of their first four Test matches of their careers
Denise Alderman (Australia)
Scores | Opp | Venue | Month, Year | Result |
84 & 20 | Eng | Perth | Dec 1984 | Drawn |
121 & 1 | Eng | Adelaide | Dec 1984 | Lost |
84 | Eng | Brisbane | Jan 1985 | Drawn |
58 & 19 | Eng | Gosford | Jan 1985 | Won |
Note: in her next Test match she made 43 & 23 in Bendigo in January 1985
Deepti Sharma (India)
Scores | Opp | Venue | Month, Year | Result |
29* & 54 | Eng | Bristol | Jun 2021 | Drawn |
66 & 3* | Aus | Carrara | Sep 2021 | Drawn |
67 & 20 | Eng | Navi Mumbai | Dec 2023 | Won |
78 | Aus | Mumbai WS | Dec 2023 | Won |
78 The career-best score forDeepti Sharma in Women’s Test cricket at the Wankhede Stadium is now the highest individual score by any opponent batter while coming in at a batting position below five against Australia. However, Deepti missed registering the highest Test score by an Indian batter from positions 8 to 11 by two runs. While on debut, Sneh Rana’s unbeaten 80 against England in Bristol in June 2021 is still the Indian record by a number eight.
Highest individual Test scores by batters from batting position 6 to 11 against Australia Women
Runs | Bat# | Batter | For | Venue | Month, Year | Result |
78 | 8th | Deepti Sharma | Ind | Mumbai WS | Dec 2023 | Won |
70 | 6th | Chris Watmough | Eng | Adelaide | Dec 1984 | Won |
66 | 6th | Ruth Westbrook | Eng | Adelaide | Mar 1958 | Drawn |
66 | 6th | Deepti Sharma | Ind | Carrara | Sep 2021 | Drawn |
64 | 7th | Karen Smithies | Eng | Hove | Aug 1987 | Drawn |
Highest individual scores by Indian batters from batting position 8 to 11 in Women’s Test cricket
Runs | Bat# | Batter | Opp | Venue | Month, Year | Result |
80* | 8th | Sneh Rana | Eng | Bristol | Jun 2021 | Drawn |
78 | 8th | Deepti Sharma | Aus | Mumbai WS | Dec 2023 | Won |
66 | 8th | Shyama Shaw | Eng | Hyderabad | Dec 1995 | Drawn |
3 The number of occasions when opponent sides have registered 400-plus totals against Australia Women in Tests. India Women, at the Wankhede Stadium, became the latest side to emulate England, who have achieved these totals on two separate occasions.
400-plus totals achieved by opponents against Australia in Women’s Tests
Total | Opponent | Venue | Month, year | Result for opponent |
463/10 | England | Nottingham | June 2023 | Lost by 89 runs |
414/10 | England | Guildford | August 1998 | Drawn |
406/10 | India | Mumbai WS | December 2023 | Won by 8 wickets |
187 The first-innings lead for India Women in the Mumbai Test is now the highest conceded by Australia Women in Tests. Thus, this lead is India Women’s fourth-highest gain in Tests. In the previous Test against England in Navi Mumbai, India achieved its biggest first-innings lead in Women’s Test matches, as shown in the second table.
Biggest first innings lead conceded by Australia Women in Tests
Runs | Team1 (totals) | Team2 (totals) | Venue | Month, year | Result (for Aus) |
187 | Aus (219 & 261) | Ind (406 & 75/2) | Mumbai WS | Dec 2023 | Lost by 8 wkts |
158 | Aus (131 & 232) | Eng (289 & 75/4) | Worcester | Aug 2005 | Lost by 6 wkts |
148 | Aus (129 & 311) | NZ (277 & 88/8) | St Kilda, Melbourne | Jan 1979 | Match drawn |
Biggest first innings lead gained by India Women in Tests
Runs | Team1 (totals) | Team2 (totals) | Venue | Month, year | Result (for Ind) |
292 | Ind (428 & 186/6d) | Eng (136 & 131) | Navi Mumbai | Dec 2023 | WON by 347 runs |
254 | Ind (404/9d & 13/0) | SAf (150 & 266) | Paarl | Mar 2002 | WON by 10 wkts |
208 | Ind (307 & 98/5) | Eng (99 & 305) | Taunton | Aug 2006 | WON by 5 wkts |
187 | Aus (219 & 261) | Ind (406 & 75/2) | Mumbai WS | Dec 2023 | WON by 8 wkts |
7 The number of victories achieved by India Women in Test cricket. Their latest win at the Wankhede Stadium was their first against Australia. India has defeated all Women’s Test opponents except New Zealand. The second table below summarises India’s results against all five opponents.
India Women’s seven Test victory
# | Victory date | Ground/Stadium, City | Opponent | Victory | India’s Test Number |
1. | 19 Nov 1976 | Moinul Haque Stadium, Patna | West Indies | by 5 wickets | 4 |
2. | 22 Mar 2002 | Boland Bank Park, Paarl | South Africa | by 10 wickets | 28 |
3. | 1 Sep 2006 | County Ground, Taunton | England | by 5 wickets | 34 |
4. | 16 Aug 2014 | Sir Paul Getty’s Ground, Wormsley | England | by 6 wickets | 35 |
5. | 19 Nov 2014 | Raja Wadeyar Ground, Mysore | South Africa | by an inns & 34 runs | 36 |
6. | 16 Dec 2023 | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai | England | by 347 runs | 39 |
7. | 24 Dec 2023 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | Australia | by 8 wickets | 40 |
Note:
India Women’s last five Test wins have come in their last seven matches (the other two being drawn)
India Women in Test cricket – summary of results against all opponents
Opponent | Span | Tests | Won | Lost | Draw | %Win |
West Indies | Oct 1976 to Nov 1976 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 16.67 |
New Zealand | Jan 1977 to Nov 2003 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.00 |
Australia | Jan 1977 to Dec 2023 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 9.09 |
England | Jun 1986 to Dec 2023 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 20.00 |
South Africa | Mar 2002 to Nov 2014 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Total | 40 | 7 | 6 | 27 | 17.50 |
All records are correct and updated until 24 December 2023.
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