Connor says women still want to play Tests

"The girls have learnt to do with whatever limited opportunities they get to play Tests," she says.

"It's worth playing one or two Tests to keep the spirit alive. The women certainly want to experience the traditional version of cricket."

Indian skipper Anjum Chopra endorsed Connor's views, saying England and India were among the countries which were still keen on playing more Tests.

"A one-off Test merely whets the appetite for a Test series, but its becoming more and more difficult to get one," Chopra says.

Reluctance

The Women's Cricket Association of India - a rarity in that it is not affiliated to the men's cricket board - is still keen on more Tests, but has difficulty getting visitors to agree on a series.

"The WCAI would like to play more Tests but we've got to have rivals willing to play them," says the association's general secretary Anuradha Dutt.

Most Indian women players are employed by two public sector enterprises - Air India and Indian Railways - which are willing to grant them extended leave, often on full pay, while representing their country.

Connor fondly remembers England's eight-week tour of India in 1995, when they played three Tests and five one-dayers.

"I was a student then and did not need leave from any employer to take off for two months," Connor said.

Slow scoring

But England's new coach John Harmer, who moved from Australia after taking them to the World Cup final, believes women's cricket is more suited to the one-day version.

"It's sad there aren't many Tests, but I think one-day cricket suits women at the moment," Harmer says.

New Zealand's world-beating side was built without Tests

"There's a lingering danger that slow run-rates in women's Test matches could be detrimental to spectator interest.

"The scoring rate of four-runs-an-over in the one-day game may get the spectators in. But if this drops to two during Test matches, it could be have a counter-effect.

To prove Harmer's point, on their way to a record-breaking stand of 200 in Lucknow, England openers Caroline Atkins and Arran Thompson took 101 overs on the first day to reach 150.

Australia and New Zealand - the two leading sides in the women's game - play an annual series, but it does not feature any Tests.

"New Zealand simply won't play any Test matches," says Harmer of the world champions.

"They've now decided to structure their women's game on one-dayers."

Indian coach Tarak Sinha, however, feels a women's Test series is not an outdated idea.

"We shouldn't be comparing women's cricket with the men's game; it has its own place," Sinha says.

"I believe Test matches could figure more prominently in the scheme of things."