ICC plans multimillion-pound boost for Test cricket via dedicated cash fund

Test cricket is poised for the introduction of a dedicated fund as the International Cricket Council (ICC) hopes to boost match fees and stem the talent drain to lucrative franchise leagues.

According to reports in Australia, the fund would introduce a minimum Test match fee of $10,000 (£7,600) for players, helping the national boards which now struggle to match the wages on offer in T20 competitions across the globe.

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The Guardian understands the initiative has the support of Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and reportedly in line to become the next ICC chair, has also publicly declared his support for a fund of “$5m, $10m or higher” which would offset the costs incurred by poorer boards when hosting Test cricket.

The ECB has shown its willingness to help other boards by introducing a touring fee when Zimbabwe visit England for a one-off Test next May. Richard Gould, the ECB chief executive, said last month that Zimbabwe would be recipients of the fee next year.

“Normally the way things happen [in bilateral cricket] is that the touring team gets itself into the country and then it’s looked after in terms of costs, accommodation, all the rest of it,” Gould told Sky Sports. “But there’s no fee for that team that’s touring. Next year when we play against Zimbabwe, there will be a fee for that team that’s touring.”

The Test with Zimbabwe, a four-day match, will begin at Trent Bridge on 22 May, the ECB confirmed on Thursday as it announced its home international schedule for 2025.

The fixture marks a resumption of relations between the two sides, who have not played each other in a bilateral series since 2004. The ECB suspended ties with Zimbabwe in 2008 on government instructions due to concerns over human rights in the country. In he last Test between the two sides, at Lord’s in 2003, Jimmy Anderson took a five-wicket haul on his red-ball debut for England.

“To be welcoming Zimbabwe back for a men’s Test match will be a historic moment, more than 20 years since their last visit,” Gould said in a statement. “Test cricket is so beloved in this country, and we know that we have an important role to play in supporting developing Test cricketing nations so that this format of the game thrives long into the future.”

The ECB has also announced that India will visit England in 2026 to play the first ever women’s Test at Lord’s. This comes after the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket’s report, published last year, said it was “truly appalling” that England’s women had never played a Test at the venue, known as the home of cricket. “It will be a truly special occasion, and one of real significance,” said ould.

Prior to that historic Test, India’s women’s team will tour England in 2025, playing five T20s and three ODIs from 28 June to 22 July. West Indies’ women’s side will visit earlier in the summer, playing England in three T20s and three ODIs from 21 May to 7 June.

After their single match against Zimbabwe next summer, England’s men will continue their Test commitments with a five-match series against India, to begin on 20 June at Headingley before concluding at the Oval, with the final Test to begin on 31 July. The other three Tests will take place at Edgbaston, Lord’s and Old Trafford. The schedule is not dissimilar to England’s in 2023, when the last Test of the summer was completed before the start of August.

The England men’s white-ball setup will welcome West Indies for three ODIs and three T20s between the Zimbabwe and India Tests. South Africa will tour in September, also playing three ODIs and three T20s against the hosts. England will then visit Ireland for three ODIs, from 17 to 21 September. Venues have yet to be confirmed for the series.