England to host Sri Lanka in packed summer of 2021

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced a provisional home schedule for 2021 today with a five-match Test series against India set to headline the English summer.

Sri Lanka and Pakistan are also penned in for limited overs matches between June and July before the first Test against India on August 4-8 at Trent Bridge. The final Test is scheduled to be held in Manchester from September 10 to September 14.

England were the first side to invite teams after the COVID-19 hiatus this year, with matches held in bio-secure bubbles without fans but the ECB hopes to have spectators return to stadiums with general sale tickets available in January.

“Next year we've got another big international programme to look forward to, with the thrill of a five-Test series against India as the centrepiece,” ECB CEO Tom Harrison said in a statement.

“While COVID means there's still a great deal of uncertainty, we really hope to be able to welcome fans back into the grounds safely next year to bring that unique atmosphere to stadia across the country.”

The England Women's Team also plans to host South Africa and New Zealand while the Visually Impaired Team takes on Australia in a limited-overs series in August.

Provisional England Men's schedule:

• England v Sri Lanka: Three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) from June 29.
• England v Pakistan: Three ODIs and three Twenty20 matches from July 8
• England v India: Five Test matches from August 4.
• Provisional 2021 England Men's home internationals:

(England Men's Royal London Series against Sri Lanka): June 29: England v Sri Lanka, 1st ODI Emirates Riverside, Durham. July 1: England v Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI Kia Oval. July: 4 England v Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI Bristol County Ground.

England Men's Series against Pakistan

(Royal London Series): July 8: England v Pakistan, 1st ODI at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. July 10: England v Pakistan, 2nd ODI at Lord's, London. July 13: England v Pakistan, 3rd ODI at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

(Vitality T20I Series)

July 16: England v Pakistan, 1st T20I at Trent Bridge. July 18: England v Pakistan, 2nd T20I at Emerald, Headingley, July 20: England v Pakistan, 3rd T20I at Emirates, Old Trafford.

(England Men's Test Series against India): August 4-8: England v India 1st Test, Trent Bridge. August 12-16: England v India 2nd Test, Lord's. August 25-29: England v India 3rd Test, Emerald, Headingley. September 2-6: England v India 4th Test, Kia Oval. September 10-14: England v India 5th Test, Emirates Old Trafford. - REUTERS