Pakistan, July 9 -- England and India will create a landmark moment in cricket when they meet in the first-ever women's Test match at Lord's, beginning on Friday. The historic four-day contest comes 142 years after the famous venue hosted its first men's Test, marking another major step forward for the women's game and its growing global recognition.

The occasion carries special meaning because Lord's first welcomed a women's international match more than 50 years ago, when England defeated Australia in a one-day international in 1976. At that time, women's cricket received limited opportunities, and many players competed as amateurs. However, decades of progress have transformed the sport into a professional and widely followed competit...