England Women to Play Four Red-Ball Matches
England Women will prepare for the June 2027 Ashes Test at Headingley with a January training camp and multiple red-ball fixtures.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Women’s Issues
England Women will hold a 10-day red-ball training camp in Bangalore in January 2027 and play four red-ball matches before their Ashes Test against Australia at Headingley, which starts on June 24, 2027. The schedule also includes a three-day game against Australia A and three best-versus-best red-ball matches on English soil.
Why it matters
The current domestic structure offers few chances for players to experience multi-day red-ball cricket, and this programme is intended to prepare England Women for four days of play against Australia. The Headingley Test is worth four points in the multi-format series.
The Ashes Test at Headingley is scheduled to begin June 24, 2027, and carries four points in the multi-format series. The West Indies tour in April 2027 has been revised to three IT20s and three ODIs with no Test match, and its dates and venues remain to be confirmed by Cricket West Indies.
The players
England and Wales Cricket Board
The England and Wales Cricket Board is the governing body for cricket in England and Wales and oversees the national men's and women's teams.
Cricket West Indies
Cricket West Indies is the governing body for cricket in the West Indies and agreed to revise its tour schedule for England Women.
The details
Cricket West Indies agreed to the England and Wales Cricket Board's request to revise its April 2027 tour schedule to accommodate the extended red-ball preparation in home conditions. The West Indies tour will take place after the opening round of Metro Bank One-Day Cup matches involving all England players.
Timeline
January 2027: 10-day red-ball training camp in Bangalore before the Champions Trophy.
April 2027: England Women's tour of West Indies, revised to three IT20s and three ODIs.
June 24, 2027: Ashes Test against Australia begins at Headingley.
Season Trajectory
The programme reflects England Women's push to build multi-day red-ball experience ahead of the Ashes, a format that has been rarer in the women's game than in men's cricket. It positions the side to face Australia on equal footing in the longest format of the multi-format series.
Fans planning to follow England Women can mark January 2027 for the Bangalore camp and June 24, 2027 for the Headingley Test. The West Indies tour in April 2027 will feature only limited-overs matches, so travellers should wait for Cricket West Indies to confirm venues and dates.
The takeaway
Watching England Women's preparation this year offers a clear view of how the team is building toward a longer-format contest with Australia. Fans who follow the schedule closely will see whether the red-ball matches translate into stronger results at Headingley.
What happens next
The Ashes Test at Headingley begins June 24, 2027, and dates for the West Indies tour are to be confirmed by Cricket West Indies.
Further reading
Explore more on Women's Issues for broader context on women in sport.
