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ECB ready to fund West Indies Women’s Test ahead of England’s 2027 Ashes

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has signaled its willingness to provide financial backing to ensure the England women’s team can play a Test match against the West Indies in the Caribbean next year. The fixture, part of a multi-format series scheduled for April and May 2027, is seen as a critical warm-up for the Women’s Ashes, which begins with a Test at Headingley in June.

The last time England faced the West Indies in a women’s Test was 1979, while the West Indies have played only one women’s Test since 2004, against Pakistan. The ECB’s offer comes amid financial challenges faced by Cricket West Indies (CWI), which has cut player contracts and canceled a planned Test against Australia due to logistical and budgetary pressures.

Hosting cricket in the Caribbean is costly, with CWI spending over $80 million on domestic air travel alone over the past 15 years. England’s preparation for the Ashes will also include a 10-day red-ball training camp in India in January 2027, alongside plans to expand domestic Test cricket opportunities for players ahead of the series.

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