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Before England’s red- and white-ball teams embark on an overworked 12-month campaign, Ben Stokes has demanded greater player involvement about the international schedule.
The captain of England’s cricket team, Mark Wood, reaffirmed his long-standing criticism of a crowded fixture list that is made more difficult by the growth of franchise cricket, ahead of the third and final Test against the West Indies. Stokes, who was previously concerned about its impact on cricket quality, is now cautious about the potential harm it could do to the overall growth of England teams.
While Stokes’ attention is focused on preparing for the Ashes in the winter of 2025–2026, the limited-overs team is anticipating a new era as decisions regarding the futures of captain Jos Buttler and head coach Matthew Mott will soon be announced. Given the upcoming obligations for both teams, it is improbable that they will advance at a comparable pace.
The Test team will reassemble for a three-match series against Sri Lanka, which starts at Emirates Old Trafford on August 21, following the end of this series in Edgbaston. The England T20I series against Australia is scheduled to start the day after the third Test is expected to conclude in September.
Eight days later, a three-Test series in Pakistan begins after the conclusion of an ODI series against the same opponents. England’s ODI series starts in Antigua three days after that tour ends and ends in St Lucia eight days before the first Test match against New Zealand in Christchurch.
With no overseas Test matches in the first half of 2025, there will be some relief, although England will still play five white-ball matches in India in February to prepare for the Champions Trophy. Four visiting teams are then hosted throughout the home season, with an ODI series in Ireland taking place concurrently with the India Test series.
When it comes to making the best decisions for his side, Stokes feels that his position as Test captain gives him a good grasp of the reins. However, he recognised that there were issues ahead and asked boards like the ICC, which creates the Future Tours Programme (FTP), and the ECB, which approves it, to work with players more during this difficult period for the game’s environment.
“I hope not,” answered Stokes when asked if his ambitions with the Test team will be hampered by the schedule. “It is something that does need to be addressed.
“Who knows what international cricket is going to look like, with all the franchise stuff that is going on as well? It does need to get looked at. The landscape is constantly changing. I don’t think anyone can put their hand on their heart and say they know what cricket is going to look like in even two years’ time.
“I think some consultation might be quite nice, obviously to Jos (Buttler) and myself. The FTP could maybe see the people playing in it consulted, and I think we could have some good input in that.”
Asked whether he had been consulted on the recent FTP running from 2023-27, Stokes was tight-lipped: “Yes and no. Make of that what you will.”