On the day which saw Sophie Ecclestone become England Women’s leading wicket-taker across all formats, there was another standout spinner on day one of the women’s Test at Lord’s – one who was making her debut.
Mady Villiers, who has played just five matches for England – three ODIs and two T20s against Ireland at the back end of the 2024 summer – in the past five years, impressed when making her Test bow, taking 2-79.
It was her spell in the afternoon session, bowling in tandem with seamer Issy Wong (2-41), that helped wrestle things back England’s way as India, well-placed at 190-3, were bowled out for 285 late on the first evening.
Mady Villiers celebrates one of her two wickets in India’s first innings when making her Test match debut for England at Lord’s
“She’s on her Test match debut, but she’s had a day as if she’s played 10 of them,” Sky Sports Cricket‘s Nick Knight said of the 27-year-old off-spinner.
“She really has been hugely impressive in hauling England very much back into this contest.”
‘Dream dismissal’ on debut for Villiers
Wong triggered India’s late-afternoon wobble with the dismissal of Smriti Mandhana (83), caught behind, before Villiers followed up with a stunning maiden Test wicket, bowling India captain Harmanpreet Kaur (58) through the gate with a wicked delivery that spun sharply.
“It’s a dream dismissal and one she’ll be talking about forever,” Sky Sports Cricket‘s Ebony Rainford-Brent said.
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Mady Villiers dismisses Harmanpreet Kaur with a superb delivery just before the tea break.
“Mady is very well liked in the dressing room, and you could just sense that first wicket not only meant a lot to her but the squad too.
“The thing that really stood out for me is that she’s coming here confident; she took 4-14 for Durham just prior to this, and she’s been prepared to give it a bit of air and bowl full early on to induce the drive.
“In the end she got one just right, with one to dip and spin for the wicket.”
Wong, speaking to Sky Sports Cricket at the close of play on day one, was full of praise for her team-mate.
“She bowled unbelievably today,” Wong said. “It’s been a long time coming for Mads. She’s obviously played the other two formats a while ago.
“We were all buzzing for her to come back in, get the whites on today and show exactly why she’s in the team.”
Sky Sports Cricket‘s Mel Jones also picked out Wong, herself, for praise.
“She did superbly well, on so many fronts,” the former Australia cricketer said.
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Issy Wong claimed her second wicket of the day for England as she took out India’s Smriti Mandhana, who had 83 runs.
“Lauren Bell and Lauren Filer didn’t quite get it right in that first hour of play, and Wong in her first spell of six overs. But she adjusted a little bit for her second spell. It was a player thinking on her feet.
“Her tussle with Harmanpreet led to her Mandhana wicket, and she teamed up well with Villiers.”
‘Hard slog’ ahead for England?
But despite Villiers and Wong’s success, as well as Ecclestone’s three late wickets that saw India skittled for 285, Jones believes it could be “hard slog” ahead for England.
Nat Sciver-Brunt opted to put the visitors in after winning the toss but, on a turning track that is set to break up more over the four days, Jones thought England needed to dismiss India for less than 200.
“England had patches of good. But I feel like when you win the toss and put India in – on a wicket that is going to wear and tear later on – you’re not looking for 280 plus,” she said.
“You’d want to get them out prior to that. But I don’t think England got things right and applied enough pressure.
“We’ve already seen some balls go up and down, beating both sides of the bat, at the back end of day one, so if India get it right tomorrow it will be a hard slog for England.
“I think 285 is a really good score; they got off to flier, three got past fifty – they’d have loved someone to get on the honours board, though they couldn’t quite get there.
“But India will be sitting up in the changing room at the moment, saying ‘that is a very good day.'”
Watch day two of the standalone Women’s Test between England and India at Lord’s live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10.30am on Saturday (11am first ball). Stream cricket contract-free with NOW.
