🏏 England women drop West Indies Test to focus on the Ashes
England's women's cricket team has scrapped an April Test in the Caribbean and will play red-ball warm-up games at home before facing Australia.
The mystery
Women's Test cricket is rare, so losing one match is a big deal. England say it is about winning the Ashes, not money — but the decision also leaves West Indies without a Test they have waited decades for.
The answer
The tour of the West Indies will now be limited to three T20 games and three one-day internationals. In place of the cancelled Test, Nat Sciver-Brunt's squad will hold a red-ball camp in Bangalore in January and then play four longer-format matches in England: a three-day game against Australia A plus three 'best v best' squad matches. The big target is the Ashes Test against Australia at Headingley on 24–27 June; a Test win there earns four points in the overall series, which mixes formats. England have played only one Test since losing to Australia by an innings in Melbourne in January 2025. Reports had suggested the ECB might help pay for the Caribbean Test, but BBC Sport understands the change is a performance call. West Indies women have not played a Test since 2004.
Now think about this
Should big cricket boards do more to help smaller nations host women's Test matches?
