The English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground will host a women’s Test in 2026. The match will be held between India and England, marking the first Test at Lord’s in 90 years.
Lord’s has never hosted a Test match since the women’s game began in 1936. The ECB announced this historic one-off Test in their newly released international home schedule for 2025, which includes both men’s and women’s cricket.
“It has also been confirmed that India Women will return in 2026 for a one-off Test match at Lord’s – the first-ever Women’s Test to be staged at the Home of Cricket. England Women have played white-ball matches at Lord’s for the past three years to record crowds of up to 21,610, with another scheduled next year, but it will be the first time the ground has hosted a Women’s Test match,” the ECB said in a statement.
Claire Taylor, former England cricketer and chair of MCC’s cricket committee, remarked that she did not get an opportunity to play at Lord’s during her career. She also expressed her delight upon learning about the forthcoming one-off Test between India and England at Lord’s.
“I played 15 Tests for England during my career but none of those were at Lord’s. 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,” said Taylor.
In the 2025 season, England women’s team are not scheduled to play a home Test. England will host both West Indies’ men’s and women’s sides for the white-ball series between May and June. There will be three T20Is and three ODIs for each series. In September of next year, England men will play two white-ball series against South Africa at home and then travel to Ireland at the end of the month.
England is also scheduled to play a men’s Test match in 2025 after more than two decades. This will mark England’s first Test against Zimbabwe since 2003 and is scheduled to take place at Trent Bridge in Nottingham from 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. 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,” said ECB chief executive Richard Gould.
Following the one-off Test against Zimbabwe, England will host India in a five-match Test series, beginning at Headingley, Leeds, on June 20. The fifth and final Test is scheduled to end on August 4. This will be England’s last Test before the Ashes 2025/26 series in Australia.
