England’s men are set to play more five-match Test series during the upcoming summer at home in the upcoming Future Tours Programme (FTP). The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is also planning to schedule several one-off Tests during overseas tours to balance the expanded home calendar.
The England and Wales Cricket Board is preparing to move away from the traditional system of reciprocal home-and-away bilateral Test series. This major scheduling change will begin before the next expanded ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, which starts with the home Ashes series next summer.
England Cricket Team. Images Credit: X
According to a report by The Guardian, the ECB has started preliminary discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) over expanded future home tours. The ECB wants to organize more five-match Test series at home, similar to its arrangements with India and Australia.
The board has proposed a five-match Test home series against South Africa in 2032 and hopes to repeat the contest during the 2036 cycle. Pakistan remains the primary backup option if the South Africa plan does not move forward.
Internal ECB research reportedly showed that Test cricket remains the most popular format across all age groups in England. The board will focus on longer home series to increase broadcasting and commercial revenue.
ICC Consider Expanding WTC to All 12 Test Nations
The report added that the England and Wales Cricket Board supports the proposed introduction of one-off Test series in the World Test Championship. The board believes the revised format could create more opportunities for smaller nations while also helping protect Test cricket.
England are expected to shorten some future overseas tours in Asian countries such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh into single-Test visits. Those tours could also include additional white-ball matches to help host boards generate more revenue.
The report further stated that the International Cricket Council is considering expanding the World Test Championship to all 12 Test-playing nations. The proposed format would bring Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Afghanistan into the same division as the traditional Test powers.
ECB Maintain Stance Against Bilateral Cricket Series With Afghanistan
The report added that an International Cricket Council working group has drafted a revised World Test Championship format that gives teams greater freedom in scheduling matches. The proposal does not require every participating nation to play against all other teams.
This change is important for the England and Wales Cricket Board, which has decided not to schedule bilateral matches against Afghanistan outside ICC events. The board previously cited the Taliban government’s treatment of women as the main reason behind its stance.
The next Future Tours Programme will run from 2027 to 2031, but the ECB wants to finalize its schedule through 2036. The board reportedly considers long-term scheduling certainty important before launching its next major broadcast rights tender next year.
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