ECB planning for return of fans next year as it announces England schedules
England have confirmed their summer schedule for 2021, which will see the men's side play India in a marquee five-match Test series that it is anticipated will be played in front of capacity crowds.
While the schedule remains provisional due to Covid-19, the schedule released entails England playing matches at nine different grounds. All matches were played at the Ageas Bowl and Emirates Old Trafford this year, as the venues have hotels on site enabling games to be played in bio-secure conditions. But England's draft itinerary for 2021 includes nine different host grounds, and a ticket ballot in anticipation of live crowds being permitted once again. All grounds are currently planning on the basis of being able to allow full capacity for matches.
“It’s an exciting prospect for England fans," said Tom Harrison, the ECB’s chief executive. "While Covid means there’s still a great deal of uncertainty, we really hope to be able to welcome fans back into the grounds safely next year to bring that unique atmosphere to stadia across the country.”
Trent Bridge, Lord's, Headingley, the Oval and Old Trafford have been awarded the five Tests against India, which are scheduled to begin in Nottingham on August 4. England also announced white-ball series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, in June and July.
Dates and venues have yet to be fixed for England women. But the ECB confirmed that both South Africa and New Zealand are expected to travel for 50 and 20-over series. England's visually impaired team will return to the field against Australia.
It is likely that more fixtures will subsequently be announced for England men, with New Zealand expected to come for a two-Test tour at the start of the summer. The timing of the series will partly depend on who qualifies for the inaugural World Test Championship final, which will be played at Lord's. India and Australia are the two favourites to qualify, with New Zealand also strong contenders. England have an outside chance of reaching the final, depending on their performances in India and Sri Lanka this winter.
While only three one-day internationals against Sri Lanka have been confirmed, they are also likely to play a three-game T20I series in England. The Ageas Bowl has not yet been awarded any fixtures for next summer, but will hope to host at least one of the fixtures that have yet to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council confirmed the qualification process for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022. The competition will see eight women's side compete in the T20 format. As well as hosts England, the other top six teams in the world rankings, as of April 1 next year, will qualify. The final place will be decided by a qualification process. The West Indies team is not eligible to play in the tournament, but individual Caribbean nations can compete, as they do in other events in the Commonwealth Games.
"Cricket at the Commonwealth Games is a fantastic opportunity for us to continue to grow the women's game globally," Manu Sawhney, the ICC's chief executive, said. "We are committed to accelerating this growth and maintaining the momentum we have created over the past few years, which most recently saw 86,174 fans packed into the MCG for the final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2020.
