Day 44: How do we ensure that women's international cricket thrives?

England's women start the first warm-up match of their tour of New Zealand this evening. It will be one where most of the squad will be given a chance to either bat or bowl. You feel the main problem is that you think the fringe players won't have a sniff at a place in the first ODI game in just over a week.

It has been said before that the starting line-up for the women's team is too challenging to get into. There are, of course, a variety of reasons for this. World Cup qualification works mean that there is no such thing as a game to be taken for granted where players might have had a chance to get some international caps have diminished.

 One way around this could be to make more use of the academy side. A good way would be to give them more games against the touring teams or set up games with sides such as Ireland and Scotland.

Domestic cricket is also a great way to ensure that future players get competitive exposure. Still, it would be even better to get more use out of a decent academy system. There, of course, needs to be some goodwill on the part of other national boards.

That is very tricky in an international pandemic and as good a time as any for the boards to sit down and plan the future of women's cricket. Is there a place for Test match cricket outside of the Ashes? Of course, there is and the players from India, New Zealand and South Africa, and a few other sides whose players would welcome the chance and benefit from it.

T20 cricket can remain the shop window to develop the women's game, but they need a chance to progress beyond that point.

This is the time to give the game a road map of growing the game globally in the next ten years. Somehow I don't think much if anything will change.

The men continued their compelling series with India today. The host's finished on 300 for six on a pitch that looks like it will produce a result well before the fifth day.

There were some outstanding moments with the ball. Olly Stone, on his return to the Test side, took a wicket with his third ball. Moeen Ali also back in the side bowled Virat Kohli with a ball that dumbfounded the India captain.

Rohit Sharma scored 161 to put his side firmly in control. England will have to perform well on day two to stay in the game and bring the momentum back their way.