West Indies hope to host England for a women’s Test in the Caribbean next year, but support from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) could decide whether it happens. Cricket West Indies chief executive Chris Dehring says the match would be a certainty if England helped cover the cost. The Test is planned as part of England’s multi-format tour in April and May next year. It would be West Indies’ first women’s Test since 2004, although financial pressure has left the hosts unsure, they can afford to stage it.
ECB chair Richard Thompson said on Monday that his board could consider helping West Indies meet the cost of the Test. England want the fixture to go ahead because it would help them prepare for next summer’s Ashes. The team has played only one Test since losing every match on its Ashes tour of Australia in early 2025. That game was against India at Lord’s earlier this year, and England lost. Another Test would give the side more experience in the longer format before the Ashes.
Dehring said Cricket West Indies would welcome financial support from boards with greater resources. “We would welcome any assistance of our much wealthier member boards,” he told BBC Sport. Hosting cricket in the Caribbean is expensive, partly because players and officials must travel between islands. In usual international tour arrangements, the home board generally covers visitors’ logistical costs, including travel and accommodation. Moving players, officials and equipment between islands can add considerably to the overall bill.
Broadcasting is another major cost for Cricket West Indies. Dehring explained that the board has to fly the equipment and crew needed to televise a match to each venue. “We have to fly all of the equipment and crew into any venue to be able to broadcast a match,” he said. These requirements increase the cost of hosting cricket across the region further. Caribbean matches can require extra travel for production teams and equipment.
Cricket West Indies recently announced cost-saving measures, including cuts to player contracts. The board’s financial problems have also affected the women’s schedule, as West Indies cancelled a women’s Test against Australia earlier this year. The schedule for England’s tour has not yet been announced, although the visit is due in April and May next year. Along with the planned Test, it is set to include three Twenty20 internationals and three one-day internationals. The board needs to settle the schedule and calculate the overall costs before confirming arrangements.
The process for islands to bid to host the next block of home fixtures began in recent days and is expected to finish in December. Dehring said there had already been interest in hosting the women’s matches. Once the schedule is ready, Cricket West Indies will have a clearer idea of the total cost. Staging every match at one venue would be cheaper, although taking cricket to different Caribbean locations is one of the region’s attractions. The board still hopes to pay for the tour from its own resources.
Dehring said help from England would make the Test much more likely to happen. “We are hoping still we will be able to cover from our own resources but it (the Test) would be a certainty if the ECB were to assist us.” The schedule remains unconfirmed, and Cricket West Indies must first work out how much the tour will cost. For now, the board is considering its options and hopes the landmark women’s Test against England can be part of next year’s tour, despite the financial pressure.
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