England Women to host West Indies this September

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have announced that the England Women’s Cricket Team will be hosting the West Indies for 5 T20 Internationals at the Incora County Cricket Ground at Derby, their first Cricketing action this summer.

The 5-match T20 series will be played behind closed doors, maintaining a bio-secure environment. This comes across as a massive relief for the ECB, who reiterated their commitment to their Women’s and Girls’ agenda, and made international cricket for England Women a key objective to deliver during the pandemic, after India and South Africa opted not to tour England.

For the first time since the 1993 Women’s World Cup final 27 years ago, The third IT20I will be on free-to-air television, broadcasted live on both the BBC and Sky Sports.

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ECB Chief Executive Tom Harrison said, “Protecting the momentum of the women’s game was one of our four stated aims right at the beginning of the pandemic in March and I’m delighted that, despite the enormous difficulties that COVID-19 has created, we’ll see England Women in action this summer.

West Indies Women toured England last year as well

“It has been critical to us that our efforts to deliver bio-secure standards and support visiting opponents have been equal to those that have so successfully delivered in the England Men’s series.  We are immensely grateful to the team at Derby who have supported this ambition throughout the summer with testing and now delivery.

“There were 86,000 fans in attendance at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final in March and the direction of travel in the women’s game in England and Wales has been relentlessly positive over the last few years. That momentum must continue despite the challenges of COVID-19, and we do not underestimate our role in driving that agenda.”

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ECB Managing Director of Women’s Cricket and upcoming MCC president Clare Connor said, “It’s so pleasing after many months of work and communication with colleagues across the international game that we are now able to confirm international cricket for England Women this summer.

“We’re grateful to the West Indies for the pace and determination with which they have worked with us over the last couple of weeks.

“It’s fantastic for the visibility of the women’s game that the third IT20 will be simulcast live on the BBC and Sky Sports and I hope that it’s an event that catches the attention of some new fans.

“We’re all still adapting and will need to continue to adapt to the sporting landscape left by COVID-19. That does not mean that we will give any less focus to the women’s and girls’ game and we’re totally committed to continuing our ambitions in that area.”

Here is the schedule for the T20I series:

1st T20I: Monday, 21 September

2nd T20I: Wednesday, 23 September

3rd T20I: Saturday, 26 September

4th T20I: Monday, 28 September

5th T20I: Wednesday, 30 September

According to ECB, the confirmation of the schedule has necessitated a change in date for the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Final, the premier domestic One Day competition for England women, which will now be played on Sunday 27 September.

England currently have 24 players in their training group, all 24 will be available for the first two rounds of Rachael Heyhoe Flint fixtures on Saturday 29 August and Monday 31 August.

The squad will be reduced ahead of the series itself, leaving those not selected to return to their regional teams for the final round of Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and the final.