Anjum Chopra explains why visitors England Women are favourites against India Women in Mumbai Test

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Anjum Chopra has backed England Women to emerge victorious in their upcoming one off Test match against India Women at Navi Mumbai's DY Patil Sports Academy from Thursday, December 14.

The former captain explained that England Women are more used to red-ball cricket, adding that the visitors are more used to the conditions as they were practicing in Mumbai while the 3-match T20I series was going on.

"India have a chance mainly because they are playing at home. But, I feel the conditions will favour England since their Test players were practicing at the city’s gymkhanas when the white-ball series was on. So, they are more used to the conditions," Anjum Chopra told JioCinema.

"In any case, England play more red-ball cricket. Our players played their last Test against Australia in 2021. After that they have not played red-ball cricket and there are no long-format domestic matches. So, England are definitely more suited to red-ball cricket than India," she added.

Anjum Chopra's India Women Playing 11 for Test Match vs England Women

Further, Anjum Chopra backed off-spinner Sneh Rana and pacer Meghna Singh to feature in the India Women playing eleven. She said that the addition of Deepti Sharma and Rajeshwari Gayakwad will give India Women the option of three spinners. She named Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar and Meghna as the three pacers.

"I feel Sneh Rana and Meghna Singh should be in the line-up. If Deepti Sharma and Rajeshwari Gayakwad join Sneh, so we may be able to see this spin combination. Plus, along with Meghna Singh, if Renuka Singh Thakur and Pooja Vastrakar (all-rounder) play, so we’ll straight away have six bowlers," she said.

Between the two wicketkeepers, Richa Ghosh and Yastika Bhatia, I’d prefer Yastika Bhatia because she bats and keeps really well. If we look at the top and middle order, Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur come into it," Anjum Chopra further added.

Anjum Chopra also talked about the England Women Test team. She lauded their performance in the Women's Ashes and called their growth in the red-ball format consistent.

"England’s performance over the years has improved. When they played the Ashes, they played a good Test. Tammy Beaumont scored a double hundred. From then to the Test that they will play against India, their progress has been consistent.

"England would like to go with both Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone. Even Kate Cross has joined the team. So, their bowling combination will be very good. England’s focus will be to bat well because their fielding and bowling is a lot more used to utilising the red ball."