The Cricketer provides all the information ahead of the one-off-Test at Navi Mumbai
A standalone four-day Test between India and England.
One-off Test: December 14-17 - Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai (4am GMT/9.30am IST)
The Test match will be held at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.
Harmanpreet Kaur leads India women into their first home Test since 2014 (Ashley Allen/Getty Images)
The prospect of India facing England in a Test match should be cause for intrigue and excitement, for cold winter mornings to be warmed by drama and hope.
And yet, we stand on the brink of the first of seven Tests during the inaugural Women's Future Tours Programme without the faintest idea of what to expect.
While that uncertainty, caused by a threadbare schedule while giving both nations the feeling they are starting again in this lengthened format, adds a substantial layer of chaos to the occasion, it doesn't have to be this way.
What we do know is this is India's first home Test since 2014, part of a doubleheader with Australia looming next week. They'll play as many Tests in December as they have in the last nine years.
No nation are more active than England, who are playing their 100th Test and have been involved in all but two of the last 15. But this is their first on these shores since 2005 and are nearly a full decade without a victory.
While regular World Cup and bilateral series meetings, alongside the Women's Premier League, means both sets of players are largely well-known to one another, how quickly they settle in changeable conditions is one of many unknowns. England captain Heather Knight said it would require constant communication among her team to keep on top of the state of the game.
Against the backdrop of this Test is the subtext that follows women's cricket around continually when this format comes into view. Knight believes multi-format series, mirroring the Ashes, is the way to bring more long-form cricket into the calendar. Counterpart Harmanpreet Kaur used her pre-match media duties to call out the authorities, stating: "As players, we want to play more and more Test games. It is ICC and (BCCI) board's call to take up."
But their voices are coming up against a brick wall, namely the ICC's Greg Barclay who said just last year women's Tests were not "part of the landscape moving forward to any real extent" or "evolving at any speed at all".
Over the next fortnight, however, when entry is free to watch the three leading nations in the women's game, such prehistoric views will be put firmly to the test.
Harmanpreet Kaur is fit to lead India despite tweaking her ankle while fielding during the third T20I at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday (December 10).
The squad for the Tests has some freshness - Saika Ishaque, Satheesh Shubha and the return to fitness of Renuka Singh - and plenty of world-renowned talent in Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues - who is braced for a Test debut despite playing over 100 white-ball internationals - Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma.
England have been forced into a late change to their squad with Emma Lamb injured and replaced by Kirstie Gordon. It means a new figure will open the batting alongside Tammy Beaumont.
Who comprises the seam attack is the other main dilemma facing head coach Jon Lewis, with the experience of Kate Cross, the height of Lauren Bell or the pace of Lauren Filer all under consideration. There is, nonetheless, no shortage of spin options with Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Alice Capsey, Knight and Sophia Dunkley's leg-breaks, all available.
India squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Sneh Rana, Shubha Satheesh, Harleen Deol, Saika Ishaque, Renuka Singh Thakur, Titas Sadhu, Meghna Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Pooja Vastrakar
England squad: Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Kirstie Gordon, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Heather Knight (c), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danielle Wyatt
Heather Knight's England are chasing their first Test victory since the 2023/14 Ashes (DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)
Conditions throughout the Test are predicted to be conducive to an uninterrupted game, with temperatures in the early to mid-30s from start to finish.
Bookmakers Paddy Power have installed England are favourites at 6/4, which is the same price as the draw. Hosts India are available at 11/4.
TNT Sports have been confirmed as the UK broadcasters for the entire tour. The matches can also be streamed via the Discovery+ app.
As with the T20Is, Reshmin Chowdhury will present the action alongside former England internationals Alex Hartley and Lydia Greenway.
India fans will need to access Jio Cinema and the FanCode app, where every ball will be shown. Sports18 1 and Sports18 1 HD will show the tour for TV viewers.
For viewers located elsewhere across the world, Supersport is the place to go in South Africa, and Fox Sports and Kayo in Australia.
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