The England cricket team aims to make significant changes to the cricket calendar to improve player readiness for next year's Tests. This plan includes adding mid-season matches to the County Championship, allowing players to prepare for the 2024 Tests.
Planning for the 2027 Season
According to the initial plan for the 2027 domestic calendar, two rounds of matches will be added to the County Championship in June and July. This change will allow injured players or team members not included in the England squad to participate in these four-day matches and prepare for the five main matches. Next year's Tests will begin on June 18 at Trent Bridge and continue until August 2 at The Oval.
This season, the County Championship was almost halted for two months, with each of the 18 counties only able to hold a maximum of eight days of cricket between May 19 and August 19. As a result, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has decided to implement changes to create a better balance in scheduling concerning the Tests, especially after inadequate preparation last winter.
Identified Failures in Internal Review
One of the main failures identified in an internal review after the Tests in January was the lack of competitive matches for the England team outside of the five Tests. The only practice match held before the series began in Perth was an internal game between England Lions players, which was severely lacking in intensity and competition. Additionally, after the series commenced, the only opportunity for players to prepare was a two-day match in Canberra held between the first and second Tests.
County chairmen have also emphasized that the Championship should be distributed more evenly over the six-month domestic season to prevent members from becoming fatigued by the dominance of the Hundred matches during peak summer. These changes will begin with the removal of two rounds from the existing six rounds starting August 20, with these matches being moved to July.
If the initial plan is approved, the 2027 season will commence with an early start to the County Championship on April 2, featuring seven rounds of matches scheduled with three-day gaps in between. Each team will have a week off during this early period. Additionally, the final day of the T20 matches at Edgbaston in July will remain, as it was modified in 2026.
