England’s packed summer calendar has raised fresh concerns, as players involved in The Hundred 2026 final could step straight into a Test series against Pakistan with almost no preparation time.
England’s Test stars are under pressure due to busy schedules
The schedule for The Hundred 2026 has now been confirmed, and while the tournament has secured a clear window with full player availability, it has created a serious headache for England’s Test plans. The tournament will run from July 21 to August 16, culminating with the final at Lord’s.
Just two and a half days later, England is all set to host Pakistan in a three-match Test series starting at Headingley on August 19. Due to this tight margin, England players who reach the final of the 100-ball competition hardly get time to change the format.
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After traveling from London to Leeds, he is expected to get only one training session before the first Test against England. If The Hundred 2026 final falls on a reserve day on August 17, there may be no training sessions for the English Test stars.
Hundred final vs Pakistan Test creates a big headache
England faced a similar problem last year when the ODI match against South Africa was played after a gap of just one day after the final. To manage the situation, the England cricket team management has discussed calling players, especially fast bowlers, to the National Performance Center in Loughborough during The Hundred 2026 for red-ball training, reports ESPNCricinfo.
However, the idea may face opposition from franchise owners, who might not want their top players to take on extra workload during the four-week tournament, especially since the upcoming Hundred season is the first edition after private investors bought stakes in all eight franchises.
Big money deals collide with red ball preparations
Many of England’s Test regulars have already signed big contracts. Harry Brook is set to earn close to £500,000 with Sunrisers Leeds, while Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Jofra Archer, Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse are among others locked in for big money for the season.
Well, the Hundred franchises are allowed to spend £2.05 million on men’s teams and £880,000 on women’s teams, so a number of world-class cricketers are expected to take part in the tournament, as teams will also be able to field four overseas players in their XI, which is one more than last season.
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Key dates, new rules and a busy tournament plan
Meanwhile, the Hundred will stick to its double-header format, with women’s and men’s matches played back-to-back at the same venue, as the ECB confirmed key dates for the 2026 season.
Registration of players for the auction will close on February 16. The women’s auction is scheduled to be held on March 11, followed by the men’s auction on March 12, after which a wildcard draft will be held.
The tournament will see MI London (formerly Oval Invincibles) face Sunrisers Leeds at The Oval on July 21. The eliminator will be played on August 14, with August 15 as the reserve day and the final will be played on August 16, with August 17 as the reserve day.
