LONDON: England will make a break from tradition by staging the opening Test of their 2020 home season at The Oval.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) releases the international fixtures for next season on Wednesday, with a packed programme featuring visits by the West Indies, Australia, Pakistan and Ireland.

The Oval, the south London headquarters of Surrey, usually hosts the last Test of an English season but in 2020 it will launch the programme instead.

After The Oval, England will face the West Indies in Tests at Edgbaston and Lord’s.

England will also play three Tests against Pakistan, at Lord’s, Old Trafford and Trent Bridge.

Both the West Indies and Pakistan series will count towards the World Test Championship table.

In one-day cricket World Cup-winners England will face Australia and Ireland in three-match series, with the last game against the latter ending the England calendar at The Oval on Sept 15.

Pakistan to play three Tests, three T20s in second half of summer

Meanwhile England’s preparations for next year’s Twenty20 World Cup will continue with six short-form matches split between Australia and Pakistan.

ECB chief executive Tom Harrison, announcing the schedule, said: “The ICC World Test Championship will add significance and context to the Test series against West Indies and Pakistan.

“England’s ODI contests against Australia, and Ireland will see the world champions return to home soil with big crowds expected at all venues.

“With further interest in IT20 cricket, the six-matches against Australia and the world number one side Pakistan will offer a fascinating guide to form ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia during the autumn of 2020.”

International schedule:

June 4-8: England vs West Indies, 1st Test (The Oval).

June 12-16: England vs West Indies, 2nd Test (Edgbaston).

June 25-29: England vs West Indies, 3rd Test (Lord’s).

July 3: England vs Australia, 1st T20 International (Riverside).

July 5: England vs Australia, 2nd T20 International (Old Trafford).

July 7: England vs Australia, 3rd T20 International (Headingley).

July 11: England vs Australia, 1st ODI (Lord’s, D/N)).

July 14: England vs Australia, 2nd ODI (Southampton, D/N).

July 16: England vs Australia 3rd ODI (Bristol, D/N).

July 30-Aug 3: England vs Pakistan, 1st Test (Lord’s).

Aug 7-11: England vs Pakistan, 2nd Test (Old Trafford).

Aug 20-24: England vs Pakistan, 3rd Test (Trent Bridge).

Aug 29: England vs Pakistan, 1st T20 International (Headingley).

Aug 31: England vs Pakistan, 2nd 20 International (Cardiff).

Sept 2: England vs Pakistan, 3rd T20 International (Southampton).

Sept 10: England vs Ireland, 1st ODI (Trent Bridge, D/N).

Sept 12: England vs Ireland, 2nd ODI (Edgbaston, D/N).

Sept 15: England v Ireland, 3rd ODI (The Oval, D/N).

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2019