The home summer begins with a one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge. This is England’s first Test meeting with Zimbabwe since the recently-retired Jimmy Anderson’s debut series in 2003, and to help make it happen the ECB will take the unusual step of paying Zimbabwe a tour fee. The series is likely to clash with the latter stages of the Indian Premier League, which could affect the availability of some England players.

The World Test Championship final will take place at Lord’s in early June but, barring a remarkable run of results, England will not play a part in that once more.

England then face India in five Tests that will run along similar dates to the Ashes in 2023. It is likely to be over by early August at the latest, at which point the Hundred runs begins.

England also have a packed white-ball international schedule. In June, West Indies visit for three ODIs and three T20s (the former moved forward from September) and after the Hundred, South Africa also visit for three ODIs and T20s.

England will need to carefully manage their resources across the summer or risk their players arriving in Australia for the Ashes exhausted. While the five Tests in Australia – the schedule for which is due to be announced n the next month – are the only red-ball cricket in the 2025/26, England also have a busy white-ball schedule. In October 2025, they are due in New Zealand for three ODIs and three T20s, before travelling to Sri Lanka after the Ashes for three more ODIs and three T20s. After that, in February and March, they have a T20 World Cup in India.