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The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has made a surprise choice by selecting Bangladesh as part of preparations for next summer’s Ashes. It is learned that their men’s national cricket team will face Bangladesh for the one-off Test before the Ashes against arch-rivals Australia.
Final talks are still pending to decide the venue for the one-off Test. According to The Guardian, “England will prepare for next summer’s Ashes series with a one-off Test against Bangladesh in late May. The venue has not yet been decided and is dependent on where the England and Wales Cricket Board decides to hold the World Test Championship final next month.”
England to arrange multiple Tests in 2026 and 2027
The selection of venue for the Test against Bangladesh will depend on the venues for the following games and previous fixtures. Until 2027, the ECB is scheduled to host several high-profile Tests.
Since there are a limited number of venues to arrange top-level matches, the board has to shuffle the venues as per the merit of the matches to maintain the pitches and outfields. In the ongoing three-match Test series against New Zealand, the Lord’s surface, which has become a bowler’s paradise, has come under the scanner of the ECB.
The first match of the series turned out to be low-scoring in both innings due to the bowling-friendly surface. Along with Lord’s, there are other prestigious grounds like the Oval, Edgbaston, Trent Bridge and the Rose Bowl in Southampton.
Lord’s pitch was under question
Following the conclusion of the New Zealand series, the ECB will host Pakistan for a three-match Test series at Headingley, Lord’s and Edgbaston respectively in 2026.
In the upcoming 2027 domestic international cricket season, the Three Lions will feature a one-off Test match against Pakistan in May, followed by a standalone Test match against Australia for the Men’s Ashes and the Women’s Ashes.
In between these bilateral competitions, there will be the final of the ongoing cycle of the World Test Championship and the one and only Test against Bangladesh; Locations have not been confirmed yet.
Old Trafford has emerged as a possible venue to host the one-off Test against Bangladesh
For the one-off Test against Bangladesh, Old Trafford has emerged as a possible venue, as the report noted, “Old Trafford was expected to host England’s pre-Ashes Test, although Lancashire would be happy to sit out until they receive compensation from the ECB.”
Why has the England and Wales Cricket Board selected Bangladesh ahead of the 50th Anniversary Test against Australia next month? This raises some questions. The Three Lions are scheduled to travel to Bangladesh for two Test matches in Dhaka and Chittagong, before facing Australia for the historic Ashes.
The media report highlighted concerns, “Questions may also be raised over the choice of Bangladesh as opponents, as two Tests against them in Dhaka and Chittagong are scheduled in February, before England play Australia in the 150th anniversary Test next month.”
