India jubilantly celebrate a deserved Test win at Lord’s

India (285 and 341/7 dec) beat England (170 and 186) by 270 runs

• England’s tailenders mopped up in 90 minutes on the final morning

• Sophie Ecclestone records her first half century for England

• Player of the match is Kranti Gaud

• A chapter ends for England – what next?

It took India’s bowlers little more than an hour and a half to complete the formality of a comfortable and comprehensive victory over a below par England team in this historic test match at Lord’s. ICC rankings have tended to place England above India in ODI and T20 cricket as the second-best team in the world, but when India play England, regardless of the format, it is the team from South Asia who almost always come out on top.

The last time they played a test match against each other, at Navi Mumbai in December 2023, India won even more comprehensively as England failed to chase down 479 by a small matter of 347 runs. England have now failed to pass 200 in six of their last eight test innings, which is a very worrying statistic, considering England have had in their ranks some of the most experienced red ball players in the game, but now need to face a future without Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont.

England’s resistance today was spearheaded by Sophie Ecclestone, the left arm spinner boosting her credentials as an all-rounder with an impressive innings of 50.

When Ecclestone was finally dismissed just after half past 12, England’s total of 186 all out meant that India won today by 270 runs – in other words, had England been given a third innings to try to win it, they would probably have still lost by about 100 runs.

There are, of course, reasons and explanations for England’s poor showing in this match: it has come only five days after the T20 World Cup Final, England had almost no preparation time, several England players such as Nat Sciver-Brunt are having to manage injuries, England were without Dani Gibson, Freya Kemp and Charlie Dean, and better all-round options would have balanced the team. 

However, India have just as many good reasons to have lost. Coming on the back of a disappointing World Cup and a gruelling two-month tour, moving from hotel room to hotel room around the country (remember, England’s most challenging tour, The Ashes, is over in less than four weeks), the India players had every excuse to have mentally checked out already.

Nevertheless, it was England who appeared to be approaching the game as partly a contractual obligation and partly a testimonial match for a couple of stalwarts rather than a meaningful contest with much at stake. India clearly wanted to win and showed the importance they gave to the game in their ultra-competitive approach and jubilant celebrations at the end. It was not the same as winning the T20 World Cup, but India treated this game as the World Cup Final at Lord’s that they never got to play.

What next for England, therefore? Charlotte Edwards said in her post-match interview that she needed to go home and think about what was needed now to take this team forward. She also said that she wants them to work more on their red ball skills ahead of next year’s Ashes.

Between now and the Ashes are three home ODIs against Ireland then two tours (Sri Lanka and the West Indies) and a global tournament (The Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka). The questions that need addressing are plentiful. Who will be captain? Which younger players will be given an opportunity? And which current players will be told that their England days are over?  Performances in The Hundred will be watched very closely.

Expect some of the following to feature prominently from this point on: Jodi Grewcock, Grace Scrivens, Kira Chathli, Davina Perrin, Ella McCaughan, Grace Ballinger, Charis Pavely and Charley Phillips.