The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has unveiled a thrilling lineup for the summer of 2025, featuring simultaneous series for both the men’s and women’s cricket teams. This includes highly anticipated encounters with India, promising an action-packed season for cricket enthusiasts.
The flagship event will be the men’s five-match Test series against India, set to take place from June 20 to August 4. Leeds will have the honor of hosting the opener of this exhilarating series on June 20. Following this, the second Test will take place in Birmingham on July 2. The historic Lord’s cricket ground will host the third Test starting on July 10, while Manchester and The Oval are set to host the fourth and fifth Tests, respectively, rounding off what promises to be a captivating series.
Parallel to the men’s series, the England women’s team will engage in a competitive series against India women. This series will feature three T20 Internationals (T20Is) and three One Day Internationals (ODIs), running from June 28 to July 22. The women’s series will kick off with T20Is starting on June 28 in Nottingham, followed by matches in Bristol, The Oval, Manchester, and concluding in Birmingham on July 12. The three ODIs are scheduled for July 16, 19, and 22 in Southampton, Lord’s, and Chester-le-Street respectively, further adding to the summer’s cricket feast.
Before the much-anticipated India series, England will host the West Indies. Both the men’s and women’s teams are set to play three ODIs and three T20Is each, providing fans with a competitive precursor to the India series.
Additionally, England’s summer cricket calendar will launch with Zimbabwe’s return to English soil for the first time since 2003. A historic four-day Test match will be held at Trent Bridge starting on May 22, marking a significant event in Zimbabwe’s cricket history.
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As the summer draws to a close, the England men’s team will face South Africa in a white-ball series, including three ODIs and three T20Is from September 2 to 14. Following this, the men’s team will travel to Ireland to compete in three ODIs on September 17, 19, and 21, ensuring a comprehensive and intense summer of cricket.
Richard Gould, the CEO of ECB, spoke enthusiastically about the upcoming series, highlighting the benefits of staging men’s and women’s series concurrently. “Staging England Men’s and England Women’s series alongside each other has been popular with fans and supported the continued growth of the women’s game. Both the Ashes last year and the Pakistan series earlier this year proved successful. I’m excited we’ll be doing the same again for the West Indies and India series next year. Cricket fans are in for a real treat, and I hope they’ll be out in force to support both men’s and women’s sides.”
Gould also underscored the importance of India’s tour, stating, “India touring is always a big draw and a highlight of any cricket summer. The last men’s Test series here was a nail-biter, and I’m sure next year’s clash will be just as exciting, while our women’s series are always fiercely competitive. I’m delighted we’ll also be welcoming both West Indies teams back again for white-ball series, following this year’s men’s Test series.”
Significantly, the 2025 series also marks a notable future event: India women will return to England in 2026 to play the first-ever women’s Test at Lord’s, adding historic significance to the ongoing efforts to promote women’s cricket.
The schedule for England’s home summer in 2025 is diverse and extensive, designed to entertain and engage cricket fans with a variety of formats and national teams:
Men’s Test v Zimbabwe
– Women’s White-Ball Series v West Indies
– Men’s White-Ball Series v West Indies
– Men’s Test Series v India
– Women’s White-Ball Series v India Women
– Men’s White-Ball Series v South Africa
With such an exciting array of matches lined up, the summer cricket season of 2025 promises to be a celebration of the sport, offering high-stakes competition, historic matchups, and a blend of modern and traditional cricketing spectacles. Fans can look forward to a season brimming with excitement and memorable moments.