England are set for a major shake-up in their Test cricket schedule, with plans to host a five-match series at home, including a proposed marathon rubber against Pakistan, and accept an increase in one-off Test matches on overseas tours.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is moving away from its policy of back-to-back home and away series in the next cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC), starting with next summer’s home Ashes.
The board has already held talks with South Africa and Pakistan about touring England for five Tests for the first time in decades.
However, in a balancing act, future tours to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh could be reduced to a single Test match, with white-ball fixtures offering more commercial value to the host nations.
The ECB’s move comes in response to the International Cricket Council’s plans to expand the WTC to include all 12 Test-playing nations, with Ireland and Zimbabwe competing in the same category for the first time.
In another significant development, one-off Test matches are to be granted WTC status for the first time – earlier a two-Test series was required for Championship recognition.
As a result, England are considering a first Test in Zimbabwe since the 1996-97 tour.
The ECB supports the introduction of a Test series, arguing that it would give smaller nations more opportunities.
An internal survey conducted by the ECB indicates that Test cricket is the most popular form of cricket in England among all age groups. The team is keen to host more extended home series, following the model of Australia and India, where both tour for five Tests every four years.
The ECB has already proposed a five-Test tour to South Africa in 2032, with a view to repeating the arrangement in 2036. If South Africa’s arrangements fail, Pakistan is lined up as an alternative.
Nevertheless, the ECB will not insist on full Test tours abroad, accepting that such series are not commercially viable in many markets.
Under the proposed new WTC format drawn up by the ICC Working Group, each of the 12 teams would have to play 12 matches against at least eight different opponents over a two-year period. The top two teams will meet each year in the WTC final, which will be held at Lord’s until 2031.
Importantly, each team does not have to face each other, giving individual boards considerable discretion over their fixtures – a flexibility supported by the ECB.
The ICC board is due to discuss the task force’s proposals this month, although one meeting has already been postponed due to conflicts in the Middle East, with the world governing body in Dubai.
The ECB aims to finalize the bulk of the UK’s schedule by 2036, while the next Futures Tour Program (FTP) runs from 2027 to 2031.
Doing so would provide long-term certainty ahead of the board’s next broadcast rights tender due next year.