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BCCI secretary, Jay Shah, on Thursday, May 20 confirmed that the Indian Women’s cricket team is set to play its first day-night Test in Australia later this year.

"Taking forward our commitment towards women's cricket, I am extremely pleased to announce that Team India @BCCIwomen will play in their first-ever pink ball day-night Test later this year in Australia," Shah tweeted.

It is going to be only the second day-night Test to be played with the pink ball in the history of women’s cricket. The first match was a drawn contest between Australia Women and England Women in Sydney in 2017. While no dates have been announced, it is being said that the tour Down Under will take place in mid-September.

Meanwhile, it is also going to be India Women’s first Test in Australia since 2006. The Adelaide Test that year saw Australia Women riding on the all-round brilliance of Lisa Sthalekar to beat India by an innings and four runs. It is also the first time that India Women will play two Test matches in the same year since 2014. The Mithali Raj-led team are set to play a one-off Test against England which starts on June 16.

The one-off day-night Test in September against Australia will be a part of the bilateral series that will feature white-ball cricket, as per an ESPNcricinfo report.

India Women’s tour of Australia was not announced by either Cricket Australia or the BCCI. It was called out by Australia fast bowler Megan Schutt. "We have got a tour against India in mid-September," Schutt said on No Balls: The Cricket Podcast.

As things stand for Mithali Raj and co, the team is set to play a full-fledged series against England in June. It starts off with the one-off Test before the teams square off in a three-match ODI series followed by as many T20I matches.

Featured photo: AFP / Manan Vatsyayana

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