The ECB today announced next summer’s international schedule for England’s men’s teams.
England will play seven Tests, nine One Day Internationals and four International T20 matches, facing four different international teams.
The summer 2018 schedule brings international matches against:
• PAKISTAN – The international summer starts at Lord’s with the first of a two-match Test series against Pakistan. The second Test, in what promises to be a closely contested series after the teams ended all square (2-2) in last summer’s Test series, will be played at Emerald Headingley.
• SCOTLAND – The first One Day International of summer 2018 takes England to Edinburgh, where they are hosted by Scotland ahead of England’s series of white ball matches against Australia in June.
• AUSTRALIA – A five match ODI series against Australia brings matches to The Kia Oval, the SSE SWALEC in Cardiff, Trent Bridge, Emirates Riverside, and Emirates Old Trafford. Edgbaston will also host a T20 International to round off Australia’s tour.
• INDIA – The world’s number one Test side face England in a five-match Test series in this country for only the second time since 1959. The tour starts in July with a 3-match IT20 series followed by a 3-match ODI series. Edgbaston, Lord’s, Trent Bridge, the Ageas Bowl and The Kia Oval will all host Test Matches against an Indian side which lost 3-1 in their last Test series here in 2014, but defeated England 4-0 in last winter’s Test series on the sub-continent.
Emirates Old Trafford, Cardiff’s SSE SWALEC, and The Brightside Ground, Bristol will host the T20 Internationals with Trent Bridge, Lord’s and Emerald Headingley set to stage One-Day Internationals.
Confirming the schedule, ECB Chief Executive Officer Tom Harrison said: “A five-Test series against India is at the heart of next summer’s international programme. This is always a much-anticipated contest which attracts a huge following across the globe for the five-day game.
“Test Match cricket has a strong, consistent and passionate following across England and Wales and the seven summer Tests, starting with the Pakistan matches, are sure to attract good crowds.
“Alongside these, England’s white-ball contests against India, Australia and Scotland will give a fascinating guide to form ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup, to be staged here in 2019.
“We are pleased to have a very loyal following for all three formats of the game and we expect to attract great crowds across the summer. The universal on-sale date was a great success for the venues and fans last year and we will repeat that again this year. What also stays the same is that we would urge fans to apply early and plan for a big summer of cricket. “