Sophie Devine: I'd love the opportunity to play Test cricket

The New Zealand skipper's comments come in response to ICC chair Greg Barclay's prediction that women's Tests may not be "part of the landscape" moving forward

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New Zealand captain Sophie Devine has voiced her desire to play Test cricket and called on the ICC to rectify the women’s international schedule.

Since making her debut in 2006, Devine has made 230 appearances for the White Ferns but is yet to earn a Test cap due to the absence of red-ball internationals for her side.

New Zealand last played a women’s Test match in August 2004, drawing with England in Scarborough, and have only contested two Tests since the turn of the century. Only England, India and Australia have played women's Test matches since the start of 2016.

Speaking on Test Match Special earlier in June, ICC chair Greg Barclay, predicted a dark future for women’s Test cricket: "If you look strategically at the way cricket is going there is no doubt that white-ball cricket is way of the future. That is the game sought after by fans. It is where broadcasters are putting their resources. It is what is driving the money.

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Devine cited England versus Australia in the multi-format women's Ashes as the blueprint for success [Mark Kolbe/Getty Images]

"To play Test cricket you have got to have structures domestically. They don't really exist in any of the countries at the moment. I can’t really see women's Test cricket evolving at any particular speed.

"That not to say any countries that choose to play Test cricket can't do so. But I don't see it being any part of the landscape moving forward to any real extent at all."

However, Devine believes there is value in women’s Test cricket for players and fans alike, citing the multi-format Ashes series between Australia and England as a blueprint for success.

"I'd love the opportunity to play Test match cricket, to pull on the black cap," Devine said in an interview with AAP. "The last 12 months we've seen Australia and England and India playing some outstanding Test match cricket.

"The Ashes series was outstanding last year. That Test match had every person on the edge of their seat. That's what Test cricket can bring.

"Players are certainly really vocal about that. I see real value in it, but we also respect that it does take a lot of time, money, resources to fund it.

"The way the multi-format series have taken off, that's a really promising way of potentially trying to get Test match cricket in."


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