England’s summer of international cricket - 2025 thread

[exiledclaseboy]

We’re about to go again, cricket fans and it’s a bumper summer ahead.

A one off Test against Zimbabwe at the end of this month.
Three ODIs and three T20s against the West Indies
The main event - five Tests against India
Three ODIs and three T20s against South Africa
And then for some reason a three T20 game jaunt over in Ireland in early autumn.

Also the World Test Championship final at Lord's between Australia and South Africa.

England’s squad for the upcoming Zimbabwe game has an unusual look about the bowling but it’s gonna be interesting.

England squad: Ben Stokes (Durham) - captain, Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Sam Cook (Essex), Jordan Cox (Essex), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Matthew Potts (Durham), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)

 

[Swanjaxs]

Don't think we are going to see Mark Wood much this summer, the talk is about getting him fit for the Ashes.

 

[exiledclaseboy]

Don't think we are going to see Mark Wood much this summer, the talk is about getting him fit for the Ashes.

I think he’s already been ruled out for the summer. May see Archer with a red ball in hand at some point though, for the first time in years.

 

[Cooperman]

This all feels a bit light in terms of red ball stuff. The India series won’t be the time to experiment before heading to Oz in late autumn.

 

[exiledclaseboy]

Six tests is fairly standard in a U.K. cricket season.

 

[sainthelens]

Cannot wait for the series v India .

 

[Cooperman]

Six tests is fairly standard in a U.K. cricket season.

Seven has not been uncommon, but the inevitable calendar congestion from things like The Hundred have meant that something had to give. I would have felt more comfortable had England had the opportunity to learn something from a mini series somewhere over February and March. Just six Tests in what is effectively eleven months makes me think the preparation is light.

 

[Swanjaxs]

Cannot wait for the series v India .

Lump on India Saint, easy money

 

[Cooperman]

Cannot wait for the series v India .

It’s fully deserving of a five Test series.

 

[exiledclaseboy]

Seven has not been uncommon, but the inevitable calendar congestion from things like The Hundred have meant that something had to give. I would have felt more comfortable had England had the opportunity to learn something from a mini series somewhere over February and March. Just six Tests in what is effectively eleven months makes me think the preparation is light.

I think they’d probably have played two against Zimbabwe but for the WTC final.

 

[Cooperman]

I think they’d probably have played two against Zimbabwe but for the WTC final.

That’s another competition than needs a bit of a revamp.

 

[sainthelens]

Lump on India Saint, easy money

Have always loved/followed em. How tge bookies price it up be interesting. Guessing 1/2 India..3/1 England...7/2 drawn series.

 

[waynekerr55]

Going slightly off topic (kinda me, in a nutshell). Went to watch my lads u10s match. A kid was playing for the other team, he was an u8 who usually plays for their u11s. My word, what a talent, with the bat, with the ball and in the field.

I do love watching my lads cricket team, so much less aggro than football

 

[sainthelens]

Agreed.

Going slightly off topic (kinda me, in a nutshell). Went to watch my lads u10s match. A kid was playing for the other team, he was an u8 who usually plays for their u11s. My word, what a talent, with the bat, with the ball and in the field.

I do love watching my lads cricket team, so much less aggro than football

I've coached both kids footy and cricket, and the latter was lot less hassle...with parents.

 

[waynekerr55]

Agreed.

I've coached both kids footy and cricket, and the latter was lot less hassle...with parents.

View from the balcony most Fridays. They now have Neck Oil on tap too