Lord’s to host first women’s Test in 2026 between India and England; Three Lions to host Zimbabwe in 2025

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is set for some historic matches in the 2025-26 season with Lord’s hosting its first women’s Test and Zimbabwe men playing a Test in the country after a gap of more than two decades. The ECB Thursday announced Lord’s will host a women’s Test between England and India in 2026.

That match will take place 50 years since the late Rachael Heyhoe Flint first led out an England women’s team at the London ground, the headquarters of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).

“I played 15 Tests for England during my career but none of those were at Lord’s,” said England women’s great Claire Taylor, the chair of MCC’s cricket committee.

“So I’m delighted at this news and most importantly for the players who’ll make history playing in this fixture in 2026.

“Young girls playing up and down the country can now aspire to play Test match cricket at the Home of Cricket. It is a clear demonstration that cricket is a game for all.”

Zimbabwe return to England

But the 2025 season will see the England women’s side go without a home Test for the second successive year.

England men will play Zimbabwe next year in a one-off match, the first since 2003. It will take place at Trent Bridge in Nottingham starting on May 22.

“To be welcoming Zimbabwe back for a men’s Test Match will be a historic moment, more than 20 years since their last visit,” said ECB chief executive Richard Gould after the international fixtures for England’s 2025 home season were published.

“Test cricket is so beloved in this country, and we know that we have an important role to play in supporting developing Test cricketing nations so that this format of the game thrives long into the future.”

India-England five-Test series

The Zimbabwe match will be followed by five Tests against India starting at Headingley, Leeds, on June 20.

The fifth Test against India, scheduled to end on August 4, is the last Test England will play before they bid to regain the Ashes in a 2025/26 series in Australia.

Both West Indies’ men’s and women’s sides will visit for white-ball series between May and June, with three Twenty20 internationals and three one-day internationals for each series.

England men’s white-ball sides will host South Africa in September, before travelling to Ireland at the end of the month.

Full 2025 international fixtures

England Men v Zimbabwe – Rothesay Test

Only Rothesay Men’s Test: 22–25 May – Trent Bridge, Nottingham 11:00 BST

England Women v West Indies – Vitality IT20 Series

1st Vitality IT20: 21 May – The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury 18:30 BST
2nd Vitality IT20: 23 May – The 1st Central County Ground, Hove 18:35 BST
3rd Vitality IT20: 26 May – The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford 14:30 BST

England Women v West Indies – Metro Bank ODI Series

1st Metro Bank ODI: 30 May – The County Ground, Derby 13:00 BST
2nd Metro Bank ODI: 4 June – Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester 13:00 BST
3rd Metro Bank ODI: 7 June – Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton 11:00 BST

England Men v West Indies – Metro Bank ODI Series

1st Metro Bank ODI: 29 May – Edgbaston, Birmingham 13:00 BST
2nd Metro Bank ODI: 1 June – Sophia Gardens, Cardiff 11:00 BST
3rd Metro Bank ODI: 3 June – The Kia Oval, London 13:00 BST

England Men v West Indies – Vitality IT20 Series

1st Vitality IT20: 6 June – Seat Unique Riverside, Chester-le-Street 18:30 BST
2nd Vitality IT20: 8 June – Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol 14:30 BST
3rd Vitality IT20: 10 June – Utilita Bowl, Southampton 18:30 BST

England Men v India – Rothesay Test Series

1st Rothesay Test: 20–24 June – Headingley, Leeds
2nd Rothesay Test: 2–6 July – Edgbaston, Birmingham
3rd Rothesay Test: 10–14 July – Lord’s, London
4th Rothesay Test: 23–27 July – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
5th Rothesay Test: 31 July – 4 August – The Kia Oval, London

All 11:00 BST start times

England Women v India – Vitality IT20 Series

1st Vitality IT20: 28 June – Trent Bridge, Nottingham 14:30 BST
2nd Vitality IT20: 1 July – Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol, 18:30 BST
3rd Vitality IT20: 4 July – The Kia Oval, London 18:35 BST
4th Vitality IT20: 9 July – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester 18:30 BST
5th Vitality IT20: 12 July – Edgbaston, Birmingham 18:35 BST

England Women v India – Metro Bank ODI Series

1st Metro Bank ODI: 16 July – Utilita Bowl, Southampton 13:00 BST
2nd Metro Bank ODI: 19 July – Lord’s, London 11:00 BST
3rd Metro Bank ODI: 22 July – Seat Unique Riverside, Chester-le-Street 13:00 BST

England Men v South Africa – Metro Bank ODI Series

1st Metro Bank ODI: 2 September – Headingley, Leeds 13:00 BST
2nd Metro Bank ODI: 4 September – Lord’s, London 13:00 BST
3rd Metro Bank ODI: 7 September – Utilita Bowl, Southampton 11:00 BST

England Men v South Africa – Vitality IT20 Series

1st Vitality IT20: 10 September – Sophia Gardens, Cardiff 18:30 BST
2nd Vitality IT20: 12 September – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester 18:30 BST
3rd Vitality IT20: 14 September – Trent Bridge, Nottingham 14:30 BST

With agency inputs