Tammy Beaumont Column: I think perceptions of women's Test cricket are finally changing

TAMMY BEAUMONT: Before the Test against India last summer, I remember almost dreading it because of the criticism that we could get if the game wasn't exciting. During the 2017 Ashes, people were saying was that women's Test cricket shouldn't exist

A couple of days have passed since the Test ended in such dramatic fashion, and we've been able to look back on the part we played in such a remarkable game.

It took us a while to digest it and work out what happened, but the response has been really good in terms of people talking about women's Test cricket in a positive light and calling for more of it – and over five days.

As everyone saw, in the immediate aftermath, the mood in the camp was quite sombre. We felt as though we'd missed a chance to pull off something special and exceptional. We were probably in a position where we should have won the game in the last couple of hours, which makes it difficult, especially when – for the majority of the game – we were a bit behind but then came back on the last day and played some brilliant cricket.

At the same time, though, we managed to dig out a really important draw thanks to Sophie Ecclestone and Kate Cross. It'll still be a massive, uphill battle to win all three ODIs – it's not lost on anyone that Australia are a brilliant one-day team and will be tough to beat – but we're going to give it a good crack and see how we get on.

Ironically, we played almost the perfect 50-over innings in the run chase. My role was to set the game up to see if we might have a chance of winning it. Obviously, Lauren Winfield-Hill and I both got out playing the way that we wanted to, trying to hit boundaries and move the game along. It was a little bit simpler for us than what some of the other girls were faced with, coming in at a time when we were probably favourites to win.

That was tough. We were really in control of that chase when Nat Sciver and Heather Knight were batting. When Sophia Dunkley came in, it felt almost a certainty that we were going to win. Then, Australia fought back with some proper Test strategies: Annabel Sutherland bowling round the wicket, hiding the ball down the legside, bowling bouncers, setting some strange fields.

Because we don't play much Test cricket, we haven't had to come up against that, so it was something we had to try and adapt to immediately in a high-pressure situation and that’s tough.

That will only change if we're given the chance to play more Tests, so it's great to hear reports say we're going to have one against South Africa this summer. As an opener, facing Shabnim Ismail and Marizanne Kapp with the new ball is going to be such a good challenge. More importantly, it's just terrific that they want to be playing Test cricket. I just hope more countries follow suit.

^{England and Australia drew the Ashes Test in dramatic fashion (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)}

Hopefully, that's the point we're getting to now. I think the last three women's Tests have shifted people's perceptions and changed the tide. If there had been another day or no rain in our Test against India in the summer, there would have been a result. It was exciting cricket.

Likewise, when Australia played India at the start of their summer, there'd have been a result if the weather had played ball. I feel like those games have shown that there needs to be more of it, either with five days or even just a reserve day to account for the rain.

On a personal level, I've definitely felt that shift. Before the Test against India, I remember almost dreading it because of the criticism that we could get if the game wasn't exciting. At my age I probably shouldn't be bothered by what other people think – but at the same time, I didn't want the narrative from the previous few Test matches to re-emerge.

When we played at North Sydney Oval in 2017, after the second day the press were basically saying that England had wanted a draw from the minute they got out to the wicket. The gist of what they were saying was that women's Test cricket shouldn't exist. So, I remember really worrying ahead of that game at Bristol last year. But we got some really positive comments afterwards.

Everything needs to be done to protect this format and grow it because it's worth doing and people are interested in it. The response has been great, and it makes you look forward to playing more Tests instead of questioning in the back of your mind whether we're doing it right so it looks good and how we need to play the game so that people don't criticise us. Well, it is looking good because people outside of our group are saying the same.

In the past, when we scored slowly we got told that we shouldn't be playing. Yet, when the men score slowly, it's just really great, traditional Test cricket. That is tough to have to put up with. But I do genuinely think times are changing. I want to play in as many Tests as possible.

Not every Test is going to be like last week's. We've seen in the men's Ashes this winter that there are times when one team will completely dominate, but that is part of the game.

^{Katherine Brunt put in a heroic performance for England in what is likely to be her final Ashes Test (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)}

I can't reflect on last week without paying tribute to the performances of two all-time greats: Katherine Brunt – for her eight wickets – and Heather Knight, who played the best innings I've ever seen in a women's game. Ever.

Just the pressure that she was under – we were six wickets down for 120 – to carry on playing with such freedom and to not give a chance, I think she's just shown what she is as a captain and a leader. I don't know at the time if we appreciated just how good that century was. Looking back, it was so special.

As for Katherine, that was the Katherine Brunt I know and love, and have done for years. Every time the ball is in her hand, she tries to make something happen. She wears her heart on her sleeve. It really started in the last session of the first day – when the partners, support people and England A were in the stand. They started chanting and coming up with all these songs.

That really lifted us, and it put some wind underneath her wings. She just flew, and that's what got us back in the game because, at that point, Meg Lanning and Rachael Haynes were walking towards an Ashes hundred each. It was just Katherine all over.

She will run through a brick wall for her team over and over again. What she's put her body through, while carrying everyone with her, is completely unique. There are some brilliantly skilled bowlers coming through, but her combination of heart, determination and bloody-mindedness don't come around that often.

Some very good cricketers have ended their careers in my time, but she will be irreplaceable. I've not seen anyone play cricket the way that Katherine does. It will be an absolutely massive loss when she eventually retires. It's not just how she plays, but also how she trains. It's absolutely everything.