The one-off game in Bristol from June 16 will be the first time in seven years that the India women’s team will play a Test. Captain Mithali Raj, thus, hopes the game gives some much-needed exposure and a feel of Test cricket to the current side, especially the youngsters in the team.

“I think it is great to play a Test, whether at home or away. If it continues, then it’s great because it helps the players.

“Sometimes it is nice to just go without any baggage and play and enjoy the atmosphere,” Mithali said during the team’s pre-departure news conference.

“It is good to have girls who are playing for the first time and girls who have played in the past, maybe they can share some experiences about how it was in 2014. I guess having back-to-back Test matches touring England and Australia can give a lot of exposure to the current lot and if that can be carried forward in the coming years, it will be great for the sport,” Mithali emphasised.

Travelling with the India men’s team will be a good opportunity for the inexperienced women players as they can pick the brains of Virat Kohli and Co. on the rigours of Test cricket, Mithali added.