England men’s team to play ODI and Test cricket on consecutive days in August, ECB confirms

The ECB have confirmed that the England men’s team will play ODI and Test cricket on consecutive days next month as they look to squeeze as much international action into the summer after the delays caused by Covid-19.

England have confirmed the dates of the three ODIs against Ireland later at the Ageas Bowl. They are all day-nighters on 30th July, 1st August and 4th August.

The day after that series finishes, England’s Test side will kick into action for their second series of the summer, against Pakistan. The first match of that series will be at Emirates Old Trafford, with the next two at the Ageas Bowl.

This means that two entirely separate squads will be playing for England in two different cities around 13 hours apart.

After England’s Test against Pakistan – who are already in the country isolating – there will be three T20s at Old Trafford starting on August 28.

“Confirmation of these matches against Ireland and Pakistan is another important step for our game as we begin to safely stage international cricket again, but also to minimise the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had, and will continue to have, on cricket at all levels,” said ECB CEO Tom Harrison.

“It has taken significant effort and expertise to allow us to reach a position where cricket is now ready and able to return to the field of play from the elite level to recreational cricket.

“We owe a significant debt of gratitude to the players, staff and administrators of the Cricket West Indies, Cricket Ireland, and the Pakistan Cricket Board for their willingness and co-operation to get international cricket back up and running and allow these matches to be staged.

“We also continue to explore options for our England Men to play white-ball series against Australia this summer and hope to have news on those series soon.”

Efforts are ongoing to reschedule England Women’s postponed international series against India and South Africa.

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