Historic 2026 Cricket Summer: Lord's to Host Three England Tests and Landmark Women's Match

Lord's will host three England Tests in 2026, including a historic women's Test and men's matches against New Zealand and Pakistan.

A Landmark Summer for English Cricket

Lord's Cricket Ground, known as the 'Home of Cricket', is set to host an exciting lineup of matches in the summer of 2026. This season will be particularly special as it includes three England Tests, featuring both men's and women's cricket, making it a historic occasion for the sport.

Men's Cricket: A Packed Schedule

England's men will kick off their summer at Lord's on 4 June with the first of three Tests against New Zealand. This series will be followed by a thrilling five-match T20 series and three ODIs against India in July. The action continues with a three-Test series against Pakistan, starting on 19 August at Headingley. The summer will conclude with T20s and ODIs against Sri Lanka in September.

Women's Cricket: Breaking New Ground

The highlight of the women's cricket calendar will be the landmark Test match at Lord's, starting on 10 July. This will be England's first home women's Test since the 2023 Ashes and a significant step forward for women's cricket, following the recommendations of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) report in 2023. The match will be a four-day affair, adding to the excitement.

Clashes and Adjustments

The 2026 Women's T20 World Cup, to be held in England, will coincide with the second and third men's Tests and the first two India T20s. To avoid scheduling conflicts, The Hundred will be moved forward by a week from its 2025 position.

Full Fixture List

England Women v New Zealand

  • 10 May: First ODI, Durham, 11:00
  • 13 May: Second ODI, Northampton, 13:00
  • 16 May: Third ODI, Cardiff, 11:00
  • 20 May: First T20, Derby, 18:30
  • 23 May: Second T20, Canterbury, 14:30
  • 25 May: Third T20, Hove, TBC

England Women v India

  • 28 May: First T20, Chelmsford, 18:30
  • 30 May: Second T20, Bristol, TBC
  • 2 June: Third T20, Taunton, 18:30
  • 10 July: One-off Test, Lord's 11:00

England Women v Ireland

  • 1 September: First ODI, Leicester, 13:00
  • 3 September: Second ODI, Derby 13:00
  • 6 September: Third ODI, Worcester, 11:00

England Men v New Zealand

  • 4 June: First Test, Lord's, 11:00
  • 17 June: Second Test, Kia Oval 11:00
  • 25 June: Third Test, Nottingham, 11:00

England Men v India

  • 1 July: First T20, Chester-le-Street, 18:30
  • 4 July: Second T20, Manchester, 14:30
  • 7 July: Third T20, Nottingham, 18:30
  • 9 July: Fourth T20, Bristol, 18:30
  • 11 July: Fifth T20, Southampton, 18:30
  • 14 July: First ODI, Birmingham, 13:00
  • 16 July: Second ODI, Cardiff, 13:00
  • 19 July: Third ODI, Lord's, 11:00

England Men v Pakistan

  • 19 August: First Test, Leeds, 11:00
  • 27 August: Second Test, Lord's, 11:00
  • 9 September: Third Test, Birmingham, 11:00

England Men v Sri Lanka

  • 15 September: First T20, Southampton, 18:30
  • 17 September: Second T20, Cardiff, 18:30
  • 19 September: Third T20, Manchester, TBC
  • 22 September: First ODI, Chester-le-Street, 12:30
  • 24 September: Second ODI, Leeds, 12:30
  • 27 September: Third ODI, Kia Oval, 10:30

Venue Highlights

  • Lord's will host key matches, including the historic women's Test and men's Tests against New Zealand and Pakistan.
  • The Oval will conclude the summer with the final white-ball match, breaking from its traditional Test finale.
  • Edgbaston will host the last Test of the summer starting on 9 September.

Looking Ahead

This packed summer of cricket promises to be a treat for fans, with a mix of traditional Test matches and the fast-paced excitement of T20s and ODIs. The inclusion of a landmark women's Test at Lord's underscores the growing prominence of women's cricket on the global stage.

For more updates and detailed coverage, stay tuned to BBC Sport and other cricket news outlets.

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