England Women's Team Set for Historic Test in West Indies

England women’s cricket team will make history by playing their first Test match in the West Indies in April-May 2027. This match is part of the ICC’s new Future Tours Programme (FTP). This upcoming Test is significant for the West Indies as it will be their first since 2004. It also marks the first time these teams will meet in the longest format since 1979.

The series will feature one Test, three ODIs and three T20Is, significantly boosting women’s cricket in the region. The new FTP cycle which runs from 2025 to early 2029 includes additional Test series for England against India, Australia and South Africa.  England captain Heather Knight has consistently pushed for more women’s Tests. The expanded FTP reflects the progress she is making toward that goal.

Before this new cycle begins, England will play winter Tests in South Africa and Australia to conclude the current cycle. England plans to tour Pakistan for the first time in 2027. This tour was originally scheduled for 2021 but got postponed due to security concerns. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has created a quieter international schedule in August. This change will align with The Hundred tournament and help promote women’s cricket.

Additionally, the FTP has now included Zimbabwe in women’s cricket expanding the global reach of Test matches. Meanwhile, the West Indies will host a Test against Australia in 2026 and travel to South Africa for a Test in 2028. Johnny Grave, the former chief executive of Cricket West Indies, recently talked about hosting a Test match at the famous Kensington Oval in Barbados. He hopes that Barbadian all-rounder Hayley Matthews will captain the team.

Grave emphasized that the importance of red-ball cricket in developing players’ techniques should apply to women’s cricket just as it does for men. New Zealand does not appear in the FTP’s Test schedule which has disappointed fans. Many had hoped the White Ferns’ recent T20 World Cup victory would prompt their first Test match since 2004.