ENGLAND will need to quickly cast off their disappointment at losing the Women’s T20 World Cup final as they now turn their attention to a historic Test match this week.

Australia poured cold water on England’s attempt to create their own Lionesses or Red Roses moment by thrashing their Ashes rivals by seven wickets at Lord’s to seal a seventh T20 crown in 10 editions.

But England have no time to lick their wounds as they will return to the home of cricket to take on India in the first-ever women’s Test at the famous venue, a four-day affair starting on Friday.

Nine of England’s World Cup squad are included for the Test, including captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, who says she is “hoping to play” despite a nagging injury to her left calf that has plagued her summer.

England will have a couple of days off before returning to Lord’s tomorrow to continue preparations and head coach Charlotte Edwards is eagerly anticipating the groundbreaking occasion.

“We’ve always known this has been on the calendar,” she said. “I think the girls will have a couple of days at home and we’ll get into the Test match prep.

“It’s a historic Test match for us as a group and for the Indian team, and we can’t wait to play in front of a lot of people again over the next four days.”

Despite an underwhelming display in the final, England’s passage there was encouraging after bowing out in the group stages in 2024 and staggering into the semi-finals of last year’s 50-over World Cup.

Six successive wins before running into the Australia juggernaut suggest an upturn under Sciver-Brunt and Edwards, who is desperate to find ways to narrow the gap on their oldest rivals.

“You have seen improvements in some of our younger players,” Edwards said. “That’s what has been really pleasing for me, how they have performed on the big stage.

“Alice Capsey, Freya Kemp, Dani Gibson… another year with these players, to keep honing their skills, I have seen the improvement they have made in six months.

“It has been quite significant the strides we have made but we have still got further to go which is exciting.”

However, Edwards was coy when asked about whether this is the group to take England forward.

“I am sure there will be new stars coming through,” she added. “We need to have a look at the team. We obviously stuck with a lot of our older players for this tournament and they have rewarded us well.

“That is something for the end of the summer to have a look at with a big 12 months ahead. If people are performing we will back them into the team.”