West Australian wicketkeeper Maddy Darke explains why Test cricket is still the pinnacle of the women’s game

West Australian wicketkeeper Maddy Darke has been slated as a future Test cricketer and will be included in a rare red-ball practice period designed to prepare players for the Ashes. And the young gun says she still has a drive to play the oldest format of the game, despite its scarcity for women. Darke is playing in a three-day practice match involving two teams of domestic cricketers considered red-ball players of the future and will then take on England Lions as part of an Australia A side in a four-day match. The 23-year-old finished the 50-over Women’s National Cricket League season as WA’s leading run-scorer with 543 at an average of 49.36. “It’s pretty cool and I think it’s a bit of a novelty as well for us, playing four-day cricket,” Darke told The West Australian. “The novelty and the scarcity of the Test matches mean it still is still held in pretty high regard for me, but I would love to see it increase. “Any chance to play an English team, it will be a pretty fierce rivalry, so really looking forward to getting stuck into that.” The domestic hit-out between a Green team and a Gold team, began in Canberra on Wednesday morning. Darke made five opening the batting and was dismissed by Victorian bowler Tess Flintoff. After her strongest WNCL season yet, Darke said missing out on representing Australia A in white-ball cricket was a blow. “Personally I was a little bit disappointed to not get into the 50-over team because that’s what we play normally, so that was a bit of a hit for me.” WA spinner Lilly Mills joins Darke in the Green team, while reigning Zoe Goss medallist Amy Edgar is playing for the opposition.