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ECB Open to Funding West Indies Test for Ashes Preparation
England’s women’s cricket team wants to play a Test match against West Indies before the 2027 Ashes.
The Ashes are a series against Australia, and England wants practice with the red ball used in Test cricket.
The planned West Indies Test is part of a larger tour in spring 2027.
Cricket West Indies has announced spending cuts, so the cost of holding the Test may be a concern.
The England cricket board says it would consider helping with costs if needed.
Its chair hopes the match will go ahead, and says it is not currently expected to be cancelled.
England will also have a training camp in India in January.
The teams may arrange extra practice games too.
The England and Wales Cricket Board is open to considering financial support for a women’s Test against West Indies in the Caribbean.
The Test is scheduled as part of a multi-format series in spring 2027, before England’s women’s Ashes series against Australia.
ECB chair Richard Thompson said he hoped the Test would go ahead and that there was no expectation it would be cancelled.
Cricket West Indies recently announced cost-cutting measures, including reductions in player contracts; a West Indies-Australia women’s Test was cancelled in March.
England plans a 10-day red-ball training camp in India in January and is also considering Test-style warm-up games.
- Who
- The England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket West Indies; England’s women’s team is scheduled to play West Indies.
- What
- The ECB is open to considering funding a women’s Test against West Indies in the Caribbean.
- Where
- The planned Test is in the Caribbean; England will hold a red-ball training camp in India in January.
- When
- The Test is scheduled for spring 2027, ahead of the women’s Ashes, which begins with a Test at Headingley in June.
- Why
- England wants the Test as red-ball preparation for its 2027 women’s Ashes series against Australia.
Key facts
- Planned Test
- England women versus West Indies women, scheduled for spring 2027
- Tour format
- The wider tour includes three T20Is and three ODIs
- Ashes start
- The women’s Ashes begins with a Test at Headingley in June 2027
- ECB position
- Chair Richard Thompson said the ECB would look at providing financial support if the situation arose
- West Indies cost measures
- Cricket West Indies announced cost-cutting measures, including reductions in player contracts
- England preparation
- A 10-day red-ball training camp in India is planned for January
- Recent England Test
- England’s women have played one Test since the 2025 Ashes tour: against India at Lord’s
Quotes
Richard Thompson
Chair of the England and Wales Cricket Board
“We have got to be playing somewhere and we would much prefer that to be the West Indies. We all have a huge sympathy for the West Indies; we all want to see a successful West Indian nation.”
news18.com
“We want that Test to play out. It is very important for us because our first women’s match in the Ashes is the Headingley Test, so we need a good red-ball warm-up.”
news18.com
Sources
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