ECB ready to fund West Indies women's Test to protect Ashes build-up
England are ready to help pay for West Indies to stage next spring's women's Test to make sure it goes ahead.
ECB chair Richard Thompson told BBC Sport the board would "look at" providing funding if the need arose. Asked if the Test was in doubt, he said: "I hope not. That's not expected to be cancelled. I hope it will take place."
The Test is part of a multi-format England tour of the Caribbean scheduled for spring 2027. The tour was announced in 2024, ahead of England's bid to regain the Ashes from Australia in the home summer of 2027.
Thompson said England want the Caribbean Test to survive because they need long-format practice. A Test is the red-ball game played over several days, distinct from the white-ball formats used in shorter internationals. England open the women's Ashes with a one-off Test at Headingley from 24 June, according to the schedule published by the ICC.
It has been a long wait. England have not played West Indies in a women's Test since 1979. West Indies have not played a women's Test against any team since a trip to Pakistan in 2004.
Doubts have grown because of pressure on Cricket West Indies finances. The board has announced money-saving measures including cuts to player contracts. A women's Test that West Indies were due to host against Australia in March was cancelled, although the white-ball games on that tour went ahead.
Thompson stressed there have been no talks about cancelling the England Test. The white-ball part of England's tour, three T20s and three one-day internationals in April and May 2027, is not under threat. T20s are the 20-over sprint and one-day internationals are 50 overs a side. Exact dates and venues are still to be confirmed.
England need the practice. Their only Test since losing every match on the Ashes tour of Australia in early 2025 was a defeat by India at Lord's. The squad will hold a 10-day red-ball training camp in India in January as part of their Ashes preparations.
For fans, this means money is unlikely to decide whether history is made. The ECB paid Zimbabwe's men's team a touring fee for a Test in England last year. Thompson's offer follows that precedent.
Cricket West Indies has said it remains committed to women's Test cricket, including what it called a highly anticipated series against England in 2027.
