From Mandhana’s brilliance in Australia to Perry’s undismissable year via Dunkley’s inspirational moment, we pick our 2021 XI
Most years the very idea of a women’s Test team of the year would be redundant, but 2021 has bucked that trend: it’s the first calendar year since 2014 to feature two women’s Tests. India (having last played the format seven years ago) featured in both – against England at Bristol in June, and a pink-ball affair against Australia in Queensland in September/October.
Both matches resulted in draws and, in a surprising turn of events, India matched their opponents: holding out in a nail-biter at Bristol, before racking up 377 for eight declared in their first innings against Australia. Australia’s coach, Matthew Mott, later admitted his opponents had “held all the aces” for the duration – a state of affairs reflected in the presence of only two Australians in the team that follows.
