ECB will 'look at' funding women's Windies Test if needed

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has indicated they would explore funding a women's Test in the West Indies next year, in order to bolster England's Ashes preparations. This Test forms part of a multi-format series taking place in the Caribbean in the spring of 2027, with the announcement made in 2024. Scheduled to occur before England's attempt to reclaim the Ashes from Australia, the ECB's interest in the women's Test was revealed when Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced cost-cutting measures.

Despite CWI's recent cancellation of a women's Test against Australia, ECB chair Richard Thompson expressed hope that the West Indies match would proceed. Should the Test become a financial concern, Thompson stated the ECB would examine potential funding options. While the ECB and CWI have not discussed cancelling the Test, the event's logistical costs, particularly in the West Indies, can be significant due to travel and accommodation expenses.

ECB's interest in the women's Test stems from the team's historical absence from Test cricket since 1979 and the West Indies' lack of a Test match since 2004. The ECB hopes the Test could serve as a valuable warm-up match for the first women's Test in the Ashes series, with Thompson emphasizing the importance of a successful West Indian team.