England and Wales cricket board (ECB) has confirmed a five-match test series against India in August 2021. This will be the second series between the two sides as India will also host England in the first half of 2021. The location for India’s home series is yet to be confirmed as the Men in Blue are yet to play cricket in home conditions since the start of the pandemic.
India’s first test match in England will be played at Nottingham on August 4. The next three test matches will be played in Lords, Leeds, and Oval. The series will conclude in Manchester during the second week of September.
ECB is hoping that they will be able to welcome fans in the stadium during the home series against India. They have started the ballot system for fans to buy tickets to the game with the option of a refund in case the pandemic doesn’t ease in the United Kingdom by next summer.
Along with the blockbuster test series against India, ECB also announced limited-overs series against England and Pakistan next summer. The English cricket board also announced white ball series for the women’s team against South Africa and New Zealand, while the visually impaired team of England will face Australia in home conditions.
India is currently sitting firmly at the top of the table in the World Test Championship. They are set to face Australia in a four-match test series during December and January. Virat Kohli’s team is yet to conquer the English frontier, so the test series in August is crucial for this Indian team. Despite a 4-1 drubbing two years ago in hostile conditions, India managed to compete strongly against England. The Indian team will be hoping to take the next step and clinch a series win in England after 14 years.