England Women have scrapped their scheduled Test match in the West Indies in April and will instead prepare for next summer’s Women’s Ashes through a series of red-ball fixtures in the United Kingdom.
Nat Sciver-Brunt’s team will now play three T20 internationals and three one-day internationals during their revised Caribbean tour, with the planned Test removed from the schedule.
The decision forms part of England’s preparations for their four-day encounter against Australia at Headingley, scheduled to take place from June 24 to 27.
Four Red-Ball Matches Planned Before Australia Test
England will play four red-ball matches as part of their preparations for the Ashes challenge.
The programme includes a three-day fixture against Australia A, followed by three internal ‘best versus best’ matches designed to provide competitive opportunities for players within the wider squad.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will also organise a dedicated red-ball training camp in Bangalore, India, in January.
England expect to involve between 26 and 27 players across the training camps and matches as they build their squad for the Australia series.
Limited Test Cricket Experience Raises Preparation Focus
The changes come amid a period of limited Test cricket for England’s women’s team.
Since their last four-day meeting with Australia in January 2025, Sciver-Brunt’s side have played just one Test, suffering a heavy defeat against India at Lord’s.
Their previous encounter with Australia ended in an innings defeat in Melbourne.
The upcoming Headingley fixture will carry four points towards the multi-format Women’s Ashes series, making it an important part of the contest.
Financial Discussions Surrounding Caribbean Test
The cancellation follows suggestions that the ECB might have to provide financial assistance to Cricket West Indies (CWI) to make the planned Test in the Caribbean possible.
CWI chief executive Chris Dehring had previously highlighted the financial difficulties involved in hosting international cricket in the region.
“We would welcome any assistance of our much wealthier member boards,” Dehring told BBC Sport.
He added that hosting cricket in the Caribbean was very expensive.
However, BBC Sport understands that the ECB’s decision to remove the Test is not connected to the financial discussions between the two boards.
Instead, the schedule adjustment is understood to be a performance-related decision intended to give England the strongest possible preparation for the Women’s Ashes.
West Indies Have Not Played a Women’s Test Since 2004
West Indies’ limited involvement in women’s Test cricket is also reflected in their playing history.
The Caribbean side have not featured in a women’s Test since 2004, which remains their only red-ball appearance in 47 years.
England’s revised preparation programme will therefore focus on extended training opportunities and competitive multi-day cricket in conditions similar to those they will encounter against Australia.
ECB Chief Explains England’s Preparation Strategy
ECB chief executive Richard Gould said the combination of overseas training and matches in England would provide the team with the necessary preparation ahead of the Ashes.
“A 10-day warm-weather red-ball camp in India followed by four further matches in English conditions will provide Charlotte Edwards and her team with the appropriate game time to be ready for that challenge [of Australia],” Gould said.
He also highlighted the importance of the internal matches in assessing the team’s available talent.
“Best versus best in English conditions provides a valuable opportunity for the team,” he added.
Gould explained that the arrangements would allow England to assess their squad depth, give more players opportunities and ensure the wider group gained experience through competitive multi-day cricket over an extended period.
