England have cancelled their scheduled Test match in the West Indies in April to prioritize preparations for the upcoming Women’s Ashes series with several red-ball fixtures in the UK.
Ashes Preparation and Revised Schedule
Nat Sciver-Brunt’s squad have featured in only one Test match—a heavy defeat against India at Lord’s—following their four-day encounter with Australia in January 2025, which ended in an innings defeat in Melbourne. The upcoming multi-format Ashes series features a Test match at Headingley scheduled from June 24-27, carrying four points in the overall standings.
To prepare for this fixture, England will play four red-ball matches, consisting of a three-day game against Australia A alongside three intra-squad ‘best v best’ fixtures. Furthermore, the team will hold a dedicated red-ball training camp in Bangalore in January, with officials anticipating the participation of 26 to 27 players across the various camps and matches. Consequently, the white-ball tour of the West Indies has been revised to feature exclusively three T20 internationals and three one-day internationals.
Financial Discussions and Performance Decisions
The alteration follows previous discussions regarding the potential need for financial backing from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to enable Cricket West Indies (CWI) to host the Test match. CWI chief executive Chris Dehring previously told BBC Sport that hosting cricket in the Caribbean involves substantial expenses and that they would welcome support from wealthier member boards. Nevertheless, BBC Sport understands that the ECB’s choice is unrelated to financial negotiations and stems purely from performance considerations aimed at maximizing England’s chances in the Ashes.
The West Indies have not participated in a women’s Test match since 2004, which marked their sole red-ball appearance in 47 years. ECB chief executive Richard Gould stated that a 10-day warm-weather red-ball camp in India, succeeded by four additional matches in English conditions, will grant coach Charlotte Edwards and the squad sufficient playing time to prepare for the challenge. He noted that best versus best encounters in English conditions offer a valuable team opportunity while expanding the talent pool, testing depth, and providing competitive multi-day cricket across an extended period.
