England to play first West Indies Test since 1979

England is carded to play a women’s Test in West Indies for the first time as part of the new Future Tours Program. It will be the first meeting between the sides in the most extended format since 1979.
West Indies have not played a Test since 2004 and are scheduled to host England for one Test, three One-Day Internationals, and three T20s in April and May 2027.
The new cycle runs from 2025 to early 2029; England will also play Tests against India, Australia, and South Africa.

Heather Knight of England bats during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 warm-up match between Australia and England at ICC Academy on Sept. 29, 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Photo by Francois Nel-ICC/ICC via Getty Images

England captain Heather Knight is among those who have called for more women’s Tests.
England is scheduled to tour Pakistan for the first time in 2027. They were previously scheduled to play in Pakistan in 2021, but the tour was canceled due to security concerns.
Zimbabwe has been added to the Future Tours Program for the first time.
West Indies will host a Test against Australia in 2026 and play South Africa in the format in 2028.
Johnny Grave, whose tenure as Cricket West Indies chief executive recently ended, raised the prospect of the Windies playing a Test at the iconic Kensington Oval.
Barbados all-rounder Hayley Matthews captains the West Indies team.
“When you have an iconic player, who will go down in the history of our game, in Hayley Mathews, it seems right she will have the opportunity to wear a maroon Test cap and lead her team out, hopefully at her home ground of the Kensington Oval at some point in a Test,” he said.
“Our philosophy has been that red-ball cricket is where you can build your technique, hone your defense, and look to score all around the wicket.”