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Wankhede Stadium Set to Host One-Off Test Between India Women And Australia Women

image-lnk1rk27Ashleigh Gardner punching the ball throught the cover region. (AP)

The iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is set to host a one-off Test match between the Indian women's team and the Australian women's team in December 2023, as reported by Code Sports.

According to the report, this match is part of the Aussies' all-format tour to India, with most matches taking place in Mumbai. While the Wankhede Stadium will host the one-off Test and the three-match ODI series, the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai is expected to be the venue for the three-match T20I series in January 2024.

India has been a frequent host for ODI and T20I matches in recent years, but the last women's Test match they hosted was in November 2014 against South Africa in Mysore. 

On the other hand, Australia's last Test match on Indian soil was back in 1984 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

The most recent all-format tour between the Indian and Australian women's teams took place in 2021, where Australia emerged victorious with an 11-5 margin. 

Notably, the historic one-off pink ball Test during that tour ended in a draw at the Heritage Bank Stadium in Carrara, Australia.

The scarcity of Test matches for the Indian women's team in recent years can be attributed to the proliferation of ICC events and limited opportunities for Test cricket. 

In the current Future Tours Programme (FTP) cycle spanning from 2022 to 2025, the Indian women's team is slated to play the fewest number of Test matches among the four sides competing in the longest format.

The Women in Blue are scheduled to play only two Test matches, both at home during the 2023-24 season. After playing Australia in Wankhede, Indian women's team will play England.

Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has been an advocate for more Test matches for the Indian women's team, highlighting the need for greater emphasis on this format.

Overall, the announcement of the one-off Test match between India and Australia at the historic Wankhede Stadium is a significant development for women's cricket and a welcome return of the format in India.