2017-19 major matches allocated

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have confirmed the venues of major matches from 2017-2019.

Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, said that these awards are significant in ensuring the long term financial health of the game in England and Wales.

He added:"A significant amount of work was carried out with the ECB executive and the first class counties to ensure that these awards are made on a new financial basis which involves the share of risk between the ECB and the grounds.

"It means that grounds are incentivised to sell out while providing the best possible spectator experience.

"The Board and the ECB financial committee, having carefully examined the Major Match Group (MMG)’s recommendations, have made these awards with the confidence that at the end of this period our venues will be in a much strengthened financial position which will be of real benefit to the game in England and Wales as it will significantly allow substantial debt repayments."

Lord Morris of Handsworth, the independent MMG chairman, said: "This was the largest number of games ever allocated by the group for such a short period of time as we also had to consider the allocations for the ICC Champions Trophy, the ICC Women’s World Cup final and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019."

The ICC Test Challenge is a play-off, which will take place every four years, between the lowest-ranked Test team and the winner of the ICC Intercontinental Cup.

The 10th-ranked side on the ICC Test Team Rankings on December 31 2017, or at the end of any series in progress at that time, will play two five-day matches at home and two five-day matches away against the winner of the ICC Intercontinental Cup.

The initial Test Challenge is planned for 2018 with winner being invited to play England at Lord’s in 2019.

The 2017-19 major match fixtures are (in alphabetical not fixture order):

2017

West Indies– Tests (3): Edgbaston, Headingley, Lord’s.

ODIs (5): Bristol, Emirates Old Trafford, Kia Oval, Ageas Bowl Southampton, Trent Bridge.

T20i(1): Emirates Durham ICG

South Africa– Tests (4): Lord’s, Emirates Old Trafford, Kia Oval, Trent Bridge.

ODIs(3): Emirates Durham ICG, Headingley, Lord’s.

T20i(3): SWALEC Stadium Cardiff, Ageas Bowl Southampton, Taunton

Final (50 overs): Lord’s

Finals Day(20 overs): Edgbaston

2018

Pakistan – Tests (2): Headingley, Lord’s.

Australia – ODIs (5):SWALEC Stadium Cardiff, Emirates Durham ICG, Emirates Old Trafford, Kia Oval, Trent Bridge.

T20i (1):Edgbaston

India – Tests (5): Edgbaston, Lord’s, Kia Oval, Ageas Bowl Southampton, Trent Bridge.

ODIs(5): Bristol, Headingley, Lord’s, Emirates Old Trafford, Trent Bridge.

T20i(1): SWALEC Stadium Cardiff

Final(50 overs): Lord’s

Finals Day(20 Overs): Edgbaston

2019

Pakistan – ODIs (5):Bristol, Emirates Durham ICG, Headingley, Kia Oval, Ageas Bowl Southampton

T20i (1): SWALEC Stadium Cardiff

England v Winners ICC Test Challenge (1) – Lord’s*

Australia – Tests (5): Edgbaston, Headingley, Lord’s, Emirates Old Trafford, Kia Oval.

Final (50 overs): Lord’s

Finals Day (20 Overs): Trent Bridge

The process for the allocation of Major Matches between 2020-2023 will begin early in 2015 with the issuing of an Invitation To Tender.