![England Women team [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1794469871879_England_Women.jpg?type=hq)
England Women team [Source: AFP]
The England Women’s cricket team is on track to tour West Indies in the second quarter of 2027. While the team will face hosts in a series of three T20Is and three ODI matches, their planned one-off Test has been scrapped in a bid to accommodate the visitor’s red-ball preparations for the subsequent home Ashes series.
It is worth noting that England Women suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Australia in their previous Ashes encounter back in January 2025. Moreover, the England Women also lost to India by 270 runs in the historic Lord’s Test this year.
ECB lays out plans for England’s 2027 Ashes Test
The England Women’s team will host Australia in a Test, three ODIs and three T20Is in June and July next year as part of their home Ashes. While each white-ball fixture carries two points, a Women’s Ashes Test win is worth four points.
In light of England’s recent struggles in red-ball cricket, head coach Charlotte Edwards has highlighted the 2027 Women’s Ashes Test as a priority.
Compatible to Charlotte’s urgency, the ECB has since requested to Cricket West Indies to revise the schedule for England’s tour to the Caribbean next year, specifically by removing their one-off Test.
An ECB announcement stated, “Accommodating this thorough programme of preparation in home conditions has necessitated revising the schedule of matches for England Women's tour to West Indies in April, which is due to take place once the English domestic season is already under way.”
The board added, “The ECB is grateful to Cricket West Indies for agreeing to its request, and for the understanding and collaborative approach taken in these discussions.”
According to ECB chief Richard Gould, scrapping the Test match in West Indies will give coach Charlotte Edwards the “appropriate game time to be ready” for the Women’s Ashes Test against Australia Women in June.
What are ECB’s revised plans for Ashes preparation?
With the scrapping of the Test match in the Caribbean, the ECB is planning to accommodate a three-day match against Australia. Moreover, the board is also planning to add three red-ball ‘best vs best’ matches, which will give England players an opportunity to push for their Ashes selection.
Apart from scheduling four red-ball matches for England players, the ECB has already announced a 10-day red-ball training camp in Bengaluru in January.
With a comprehensive red-ball preparation programme in place, England will hope to address their recent shortcomings in Test cricket and mount a stronger challenge against Australia in the 2027 Women’s Ashes.
