LONDON: South Africa will face the second-string England Lions ahead of their four-Test series in England next year, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Wednesday.

Later in the season, the West Indies will have a trio of three-day games against county sides before the start of their three-Test series against England.

In July, the ECB confirmed the major international fixtures for both the South Africa and West Indies tours, with England also staging the 2017 Champions Trophy tournament featuring the world’s top eight one-day nations from June 1 to 18.

Wednesday’s statement filled in the gaps in the tour schedules and ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said: “We’re very pleased to have agreed such a comprehensive touring programme for 2017 — a schedule which will provide fans with even more opportunities to see two international teams in action at county grounds; and help our Lions players test themselves against high quality opposition in both red and white-ball cricket.

“With this country also hosting the ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC Women’s World Cup next season, 2017 promises to be a hugely exciting summer of cricket — and a strong platform to promote our sport to an even wider and more diverse audience.”

South Africa ‘A’ will also visit England in 2017 for a tour culminating in a ‘Test’ against the Lions in Canterbury in June.

England begin their international programme with two One-day Internationals against Ireland on May 5 (Bristol) and May 7 (Lord’s).

Schedule:

South Africa tour of England:

May 19: vs Sussex (Hove, D/N).

May 21: vs Northamptonshire (Northampton).

May 24: First ODI (Headingley, D/N).

May 27: Second ODI (Southampton).

May 29: Third ODI (Lord’s).

June 18: *T20 match vs Leicestershire (Leicester).

June 21: First T20 International (Southampton).

June 23: Second T20 International (Taunton).

June 25: Third T20 International (Cardiff).

June 29-July 1: vs England Lions (Worcester).

July 6-10: First Test (Lord’s).

July 14-18: Second Test (Trent Bridge).

July 27-31: Third Test (The Oval).

Aug 4-8: Fourth Test (Old Trafford).

West Indies tour of England:

Aug 1-3: vs Essex (Chelmsford).

Aug 6-8: vs Kent (Canterbury).

Aug 11-13:3 vs Derbyshire (Derby).

Aug 17-21: First Test (Edgbaston).

Aug 25-29: Second Test (Headingley).

Sept 2-3: vs Leicestershire (Leicester).

Sept 7-11: Third Test (Lord’s).

Sept 13: One-off ODI vs Ireland (TBC).

Sept 16: T20 International (Chester-le-Street).

Sep 19: First ODI (Old Trafford, D/N).

Sept 21: Second ODI (Trent Bridge, D/N).

Sept 24: Third ODI (Bristol).

Sept 27: Fourth ODI (The Oval, D/N).

Sept 29: Fifth ODI (Southampton, D/N).

Published in Dawn September 29th, 2016