ECB funding would make West Indies women's Test against England 'a certainty', CWI says

On 9 October 2026, Cricket West Indies chief executive Chris Dehring told BBC Sport that financial support from the England and Wales Cricket Board would make staging a women's Test against England in the Caribbean next year "a certainty".

England have played one Test since they lost every game on the Ashes tour of Australia in early 2025, their only appearance since then being a defeat by India at Lord's earlier this year. ECB chair Richard Thompson suggested on Monday the board could step in to help hosts who have revealed significant financial pressures in order to preserve the red-ball match in the multi-format tour. England want the Test in part to aid preparations for next summer's Ashes, while a match against England would be the West Indies' first women's Test since 2004.

Cricket West Indies has laid out a series of cost-cutting moves and acknowledged tight finances; it announced a wide range of money-saving measures, including cuts to player contracts last week. "We would welcome any assistance of our much wealthier member boards," Dehring told BBC Sport. "It is very expensive to host cricket in Caribbean."

Officials noted that international tours normally rely on reciprocal financial arrangements, with the home board covering the visitors' logistical expenses. In the West Indies those costs are elevated by the need to transport players and officials between islands, adding to the overall bill for hosting.

Television production has become a particular financial burden for Cricket West Indies. "We have to fly all of the equipment and crew into any venue to be able to broadcast a match," Dehring said. "That is a significant figure. "Sky doesn't have to fly from London to Manchester for one match."

West Indies cancelled a women's Test against Australia earlier this year and have not yet finalised the itinerary for the England tour, which is due to be played in April and May next year and includes three T20s and three one-day internationals in addition to the Test. The process in which islands bid to host the next block of home fixtures began in recent days and should conclude in December, and Dehring said there has been interest shown in hosting the women's matches.

"Once we develop a schedule we will know how much it will cost," he added. "It is far cheaper to host everything in one location but one of the allures of the Caribbean being able to travel to more than one location for matches. "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."