Sophie Ecclestone became England's all-time leading wicket-taker across all three formats on a historic day at Lord's, where pioneering female cricketers from the amateur era were honored. Ecclestone's wicket of Sayali Satghare in the 73rd over of the match marked her 336th dismissal, surpassing fast bowler Katherine Sciver-Brunt's previous record of 335.
Her figures of 3-68 in the first innings helped England bowl India out for 285. In reply, England closed the day on 21-1 after losing opener Tammy Beaumont. Ecclestone's achievement places her third on the all-time list of wicket-takers across all formats, behind India's Deepti Sharma and compatriot Jhulan Goswami.
The day also celebrated women who played cricket before the current era of professionalism and before women were permitted to be members of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). Former players, including Enid Bakewell and World Cup-winning bowler Anya Shrubsole, were in attendance and participated in a ceremony, ringing a bell on the outfield before play commenced. This recognition of past players was described as a "wholesome" and "beautiful day" by World Cup winner Alex Hartley.
Ecclestone, who made her international debut in 2016, expressed her surprise and delight at the record, stating she had "never dreamt of anything like this" and was "buzzing it happened." The 27-year-old spinner has become a consistent performer for England, known for her economical left-arm spin bowling. Alongside India's Deepti Sharma, also 28, Ecclestone is seen as a strong contender to be the first woman to reach 400 international wickets across formats.
The match itself saw India bowled out for 285, with Ecclestone being the standout bowler for England. India's Deepti Sharma is also playing in the match, highlighting the competitive field of top female bowlers. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) organized the event to acknowledge the contributions of those who played cricket in its amateur era, a significant step in recognizing the history of women's cricket at a prestigious venue like Lord's.