Photo via BBC Sport

ECB will 'look at' funding Windies Test if needed

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has signaled a willingness to step in and fund a women’s Test match in the West Indies next spring, a move aimed at supporting England’s preparations for the 2027 Ashes series against Australia. The Test, originally scheduled as part of a multi-format tour in April and May 2027, is part of England’s strategy to regain the Ashes after losing every match in Australia earlier this year.

The ECB’s chair, Richard Thompson, confirmed that while the Test is not currently under threat, the board would ‘look at’ providing financial assistance if necessary, particularly given Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) recent financial constraints, including cuts to player contracts and a reported $80 million spent on domestic air travel over 15 years. The match would serve as a crucial warm-up for England’s sole women’s Test in the Ashes, set for Headingley in June, following a gap of 48 years since their last encounter with West Indies in a Test format.

The tour’s white-ball fixtures remain unaffected, though exact dates and venues are still pending confirmation.

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