Laura Wolvaardt has batted for more Women's Tests with the hope that the red-ball culture can percolate into the South African domestic calendar for better preparation and skill development.

On their multi-format tour of India currently, South Africa will play a second one-off Test in this calendar year, starting in Chennai on Friday (June 28), and have a third lined up later this year as part of the home series against England. In Australia earlier this year, South Africa lost the only Test of the multi-format points-based series by an innings and 284-run margin after not having played any red-ball cricket for 18 months. Since their 2014 tour of India, South Africa had stayed away from the traditional format for eight years until the drought-breaking game on their 2022 tour of England that ended in a draw.

The lack of red-ball opportunities domestically, or any prep, leading into a three-match calendar year is far from ideal given the adaptation challenges associated with the longest format. But Wolvaardt hoped putting up a good challenge in Chennai could potentially mitigate the "chicken and egg" situation for most domestic systems.

"We would love to do well and for it to be an exciting game of cricket to watch but I guess it's a bit like the chicken and the egg situation - if that makes sense," Wolvaardt said on Thursday. "Do we first start with more domestic cricket and prep to make sure the Tests are more exciting, or do we first start with it at the international level and then take it from there only if it is exciting? Obviously, we'd like to do well and try our best and take that momentum to the home Test match later this year."

The 'home Test' against England later this year will be first since South Africa's re-entry into Test arena two years ago, and their first since hosting India in early 2002. By extension, it'll be the first home game in whites for the entire current Proteas Women's squad as well. However, besides India none of the other three amongst the four active nations in women's Tests have any domestic structure to feed into their red-ball preparations. Wolvaardt said while she's not privy to any conversations on the subject, she's hopeful there is one among the powers that be.

"I haven't been part of any such conversations, but I'm hoping that it is a conversation higher up," the South African captain said. "If we want to give ourselves the best chance to win these games internationally, we have to have some sort of red-ball preparation. Coming straight into an international Test match is tough with no red-ball experience in the squad besides the two Tests that most of us have played."

Elaborating on the challenges of diving head-first into an international Test with very little context, Wolvaardt said, "Just coming straight into an international multi-day game is difficult. For example, balls that I've been cover-driving my whole life, I now need to leave, which is difficult for me because it just happens on instinct and having to fight the way that I've been batting for my entire career is difficult.

"So, I think, either we need to play a lot more Test cricket and incorporate it into our domestic practice and training, or we must just leave it because playing one in three years is very hard to adapt to. But I'm on the side to have more of it," the 25-year-old added.

Despite being whitewashed in the preceding three-match ODI series in Bengaluru last week, Wolvaardt said that playing the 50-overs format first helped South Africa ease into the Test mode instead of the "bit of a shock" of having it the other way around. However, she also acknowledged the tough challenge that lies ahead in facing a strong Indian contingent in spin-friendly conditions despite the home team's lack of any international game-time in Chennai.

'Women's Test match cricket in general is a bit of an unknown for both teams [with] neither of us having too much experience. But yeah, India definitely have a big home ground advantage. Winning a Test in India is a big challenge for us but it's one we're definitely up for.

"Batting wise it is going to be a big challenge for our group. It's obviously very different to conditions that we've been used to and are exposed to at home. But, thankfully, we do have a few talented spinners within our squad as well. I think players like Nonkululeko Mlaba would sort of be licking her lips getting ready for the game tomorrow. Hopefully they're able to put on a good show and be consistent and tight with their areas. I'm looking forward to seeing how they go on this wicket."