England will prepare for the Ashes series next summer with a one-off Test against Bangladesh in late May.
The venue has yet to be determined and is contingent upon where the England and Wales Cricket Board decides to stage the final of the World Test Championship the following month.
The ECB has a staging agreement with the International Cricket Council to host the next three WTC finals on a biennial basis until 2031. The terms of that contract state that it must be held in London and Lord’s had been earmarked after staging the past two finals, but concerns over the state of the pitch has led the ECB to consider moving the final to the Oval.
Although spread over four days as a result of rain, England’s 115‑run victory against New Zealand at Lord’s this month was completed in 166 overs due to the bowler‑friendly conditions.
The ECB’s contract with the Marylebone Cricket Club guarantees Lord’s two Tests each summer so if it is passed over for the WTC final it would get the Bangladesh game.
Such an outcome would mean that four of the seven Tests next summer would take place in London, and there would be no Test cricket in the north of England.
The ECB has already faced criticism for its choice of Ashes venues, with Edgbaston, Trent Bridge and the Rose Bowl in Southampton staging matches alongside Lord’s and the Oval.
Old Trafford had been expected to stage England’s pre-Ashes Test, although Lancashire is understood to be happy to sit out as long as they receive compensation from the ECB.
The choice of Bangladesh as opponents may also raise eyebrows, as two Tests against them in Dhaka and Chittagong have been scheduled for February before England play Australia in the 150th anniversary Test the following month. As a result, England will have nine Tests in succession in 2027 against either Bangladesh or Australia.
The ECB is expected to confirm details of next summer’s schedule next month.
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