The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed an ambitious Future Tours Programme (FTP) for women’s cricket from 2025 to 2029. This plan centers around the fourth ICC Women’s Championship (IWC) and includes several key tri-series to gear up for major ICC tournaments.
In a groundbreaking move, 15 women’s Tests are scheduled across the FTP cycle, marking an impressive expansion of the format. For the West Indies, this means a long-awaited return to Test cricket. Having played their last Test in 2004 against Pakistan, they will host Australia in March 2026, face England at home in April 2027, and travel to South Africa in December 2028. This renewal is historic, considering that the West Indies have played only 12 women’s Tests, with their lone win against India and three losses in total.
West Indies women’s Test fixtures:
v Australia, March-April 2026
v England, April-May 2027
v South Africa, November-December 2028
India, too, will feature prominently with five Tests—two at home against Australia and England, and three away against England, Australia and South Africa in 2026. To date, India has a solid Test record with 41 matches played, securing eight wins and suffering six losses. Their most recent Test victory was on June 28, 2024, in Chennai, where they defeated South Africa comprehensively.
India women’s Test fixtures:
v Australia, February-March 2026
v England, July 2026
v South Africa, December 2026
v Australia, December-January 2027-28
v England, December 2028
South Africa, meanwhile, will break new ground by hosting Australia for a Test for the first time in March-April 2027. With five Tests scheduled during this FTP, South Africa will also face India and England. They’ve played 15 Tests to date, with a single win against the Netherlands in 2007 and seven losses.
South Africa women’s Test fixtures:
v India, December 2026
v Australia, March-April 2027
v Australia, February-March 2028
v England, June 2028
v West Indies, November-December 2028
England, the team with the richest Test history, played their 100th Test against India in December 2023, though they lost by 347 runs. They are set to play seven Tests over the coming cycle, including three against Australia, two against India, and one each against West Indies and South Africa. With 100 Tests under their belt, England has won 20 and lost 16, with their last Test win dating back to January 2014 against Australia in Perth.
England women’s Test fixtures:
v Australia, January–February 2025
v India, July 2026
v West Indies, April-May 2027
v Australia, July-August 2027
v South Africa, June 2028
v India, December 2028
v Australia, February-March 2029
Australia leads in the most number of Tests this cycle with eight in total, spanning series against England, India, South Africa, and West Indies. Australia’s Test record stands strong, with 79 Tests played, 22 wins, and 11 losses. They last took the field in a Test in February 2024, where they dominated South Africa by an innings and 284 runs in Perth.
Australia women’s Test fixtures:
v England, January–February 2025
v India, February-March 2026
v West Indies, March-April 2026
v South Africa, March-April 2027
v England, July-August 2027
v India, December-January 2027-28
v South Africa, February-March 2028
v England, February-March 2029
Notably absent from this FTP’s Test lineup are New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, teams with limited Test experience. New Zealand’s last Test was in 2004, while Pakistan has played only three Tests (1998-2004), and Sri Lanka just one in 1999, which they won against Pakistan.
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