Cricketers to Watch Out for in 2025

England kick off their New Zealand Test Series on Wednesday as Brendon McCullum’s side travel to England ended their 2024 on a high as they took victory in New Zealand in a three match test series that saw them come out as 2-1 winners. After a lengthy month-long break, they will be back in action this week as they begin their tour of India in a Twenty20 match against Suryakumar Yadav’s side. With a tough challenge up ahead on Indian soil, here at Engage we take a look at some of the up and coming players who could have a big year for England in 2025!

With some stunning performances over the 2024 Domestic Season and an Ashes Series just around the corner in 2025, England will be keen to make sure they include the best of the best in their lineup. But who will make the cut for Brendon McCullum’s side this year?

Jordan Cox

First up on the list is Essex middle order batsman Jordan Cox. The 23 year-old earned his first England call up in August with his impressive form for his county averaging 65.57. He also totted up over 900 runs, the second highest in division one in 2024. He is yet to make his full debut for England, however, if his impressive form is maintained then he will certainly be on Brendon McCullum’s radar in 2025.

James Bracey

Second on the list is a face that has featured in an England lineup before, however, not for 3 years. Wicketkeeper James Bracey had a consistently excellent summer in 2024 for Gloucestershire making four centuries, over 1000 runs and averaging 61.17 while contributing to 58 dismissals behind the stumps.

Bracey was most well remembered for his stunning performance in July against Glamorgan that certainly raised a few eyebrows. Bracey not only made a stunning one-handed, gloveless catch but he also made a sublime double century boosting his odds of an international callup this year.

Michael Pepper

In the T20 Blast campaign 26 year-old Michael Pepper came up with the batting performance of the tournament as his stunning 120 not out was the highest individual score of the Blast. It also helped him to rack up the third highest number of runs overall with 535. The Essex man made an unbeaten 120 runs from 53 deliveries against Sussex last summer to pull off a brilliant batting display and steer Essex to an unlikely victory.

Although not included in this tour of India, Pepper will have caught the eyes of selectors and he could be a face that we see in the England setup over the course of 2025.

Shoaib Bashir

Talented youngster, Shoaib Bashir is another player who will look to impress in 2025. Bashir made his senior international debut for England in February 2024 also claiming his maiden test 5-for in only his second match. Furthemore, the 21 year-old Somerset spinner became the youngest England player ever to take a 5-for at home when McCullum’s side faced the West Indies in July.

Bashir is not included as of yet in the tour of India, however, he has been called up to the England Lions’ tour of Australia in the hope that he gains some more experience before catching the eye of selectors, before the Ashes later in the year.

Jacob Bethell

Another talented youngster that took 2024 by storm was Jacob Bethell. The Warwickshire batsman has certainly fulfilled expectations since his England debut back in September, earning his first selection of 2025 against India. He will look to impress once again after averaging 57.66 runs across seven matches in international T20s last year, while also making 260 runs across three test matches to complete a brilliant 2024.

If the 21-year old can maintain this stellar form there is no reason why he can’t be a familiar face in the England camp throughout 2025. Can he spur England on to win the Ashes Down Under for the first time since 1987?

With some scintillating performances on show in 2024, who are you excited to see in 2025? With plenty of talent on show, McCullum and the selectors certainly have a tough gig on their hands to make sure England are fully armed in what is expected to be a challenging year. How do you think they will get on? Engage Hospitality are offering brilliant packages for multiple days out at the cricket in 2025, from domestic cricket to international showdowns.

Enjoy your favourite cricketers live from the best seats in the house and watch as England take on India, South Africa and Australia in a range of formats in 2025 with Engage Hospitality.

New Zealand vs England Test Preview

England kick off their New Zealand Test Series on Wednesday as Brendon McCullum’s side travel to Christchurch in the first game of three on his home nation’s soil. The former Black Caps captain will hope to steer his side to victory after consecutive defeats to Pakistan back in October.

With England nowhere near their best in Asia, they will hope to turn this form around before they take on some more difficult fixtures this summer. Here at Engage we take a look at what to expect in New Zealand and what it could mean for the visit of India in 2025.

A series defeat for England in Pakistan raised questions on the quality of an England side who were spun to defeat in Asia. Pakistani spinners Norman Ali and Sajid Khan took 19 of the 20 England wickets in the final match of the series to complete a 2-1 series win, as a disappointing collapse saw England bowled out for 112.

England began the series in dominant style winning by an innings and 47 runs having put on an astonishing 823 runs in a single innings. Harry Brook and Joe Root made 579 between them in what was a magnificent display. However, England couldn’t repeat this thumping victory in the following games, ultimately leading to their downfall. If they are to travel to New Zealand with any chance of a result, they will certainly have to improve.

New Zealand vs England Test Series

Can England turn their fortunes around in New Zealand? New Zealand go into this one with their ‘tails up’. A convincing victory on their tour of India saw the Black Caps come away 3-0 series winners, and they will certainly be keen to do the same to their visitors. England will travel to Christchurch, Wellington and Hamilton as part of their tour in the hope they can cause an upset.

If England can set up well, there is no reason why they can’t claim victory in New Zealand. England make three changes from the team that lost to Pakistan. Jacob Bethell will make his test debut while Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse are introduced into the Eleven. Jamie Smith, Rehan Ahmed and Jack Leach are all left out Down Under with McCullum opting for pace bowling rather than spin. Meanwhile, Harry Brook’s impressive ‘triple-century’ in Pakistan sees him retain his place in the team.

With McCullum and Stokes hoping pace is the answer to their problems, they will be hoping New Zealand are unable to cope. With that said, it was spin-bowler Ravindra Jadeja who caused trouble for the Black Caps against India last time out taking 10 wickets in the final test. Should England have persisted with spin? Or will conditions be different on New Zealand soil?

If England are to beat New Zealand it will certainly bode them well for their future fixtures. The hosts will be seeking vengeance for their defeat to Pakistan with New Zealand expected to bear the brunt of their fury.

With both sides gunning for a result to end 2024 on a high, it’s hard to say who will come out on top. With conditions in New Zealand’s favour, they may go into this series as the favourites, but only just. If Ben Stokes can get his England side fired up, then they will be ruthless against any sides lacking their ‘A game’.

England vs India Test Series 2025

If you fancy watching Ben Stokes and his side live on English soil, why not check out the England vs India 2025 Test Series? Taking place across England at venues such as Edgbaston, Headingley and of course The Home of Cricket, come and watch the cricket with Engage Hospitality.

Engage are offering some wonderful packages for you to enjoy all of the action at Lord’s, Headingley, Edgbaston, the Kia Oval and Emirates Old Trafford. Experience hospitality like no other with magnificent experiences including luxury seating, talks from cricketing legends, beautiful food, afternoon tea and more from our ICON facilities!

Support England next year from the best seats in the house as they prepare for the 2025/26 Ashes Series in Australia!

Everything you need to know about the 2025/26 Ashes

There’s nothing quite like the Ashes and attention has turned to the next series in 2025/26. It seems like just yesterday that fans up and down the country were cursing the typical English weather for ending England’s hopes of a famous Ashes win over Australia in 2023.

But last year’s historic encounter is a distant memory and we’re already thinking about the next series, which is set to get underway in just over a year. While we’ll have our fingers crossed that there’ll be no rain to spoil the fun as we head to sunnier climes down under, our miserable record in Australia might take over in dampening the mood.

When is the Ashes?

While the exact dates are unconfirmed, next year’s Ashes are expected to get underway in November of next year, with the final Test taking place in January 2026. While it may be winter for us, it’s Australia’s turn to host so it’ll be taking place during their summer months.

This may be good for the weather, meaning hopefully we see the maximum amount of play. However, for those of us watching the action back in England, it will sadly mean plenty of late nights glued to the TV.

Where will the Ashes be played?

We know it’s in Australia but as it’s still early days, we’re yet to have official confirmation of what venues will host the five matches. However, we can be pretty confident that they’ll take place in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, as is tradition.

The last time England headed to Oz for the Ashes, Perth were unable to host their Test match due to complications surrounding the pandemic. This led to Hobart in Tasmania stepping up as an Ashes venue for the first time ever.

Hospitality at the Ashes

If you don’t fancy cold late nights watching at home and you’re thinking of heading out to Australia to watch the Ashes in style, you’ve come to the right place.

Details of hospitality for the Ashes are still yet to be confirmed but you can register your interest with the link below to be the first to hear about more details.

Enquire today to register your interest for the 2025/26 Ashes series.

Can England end their miserable record down under?

While it’s natural to feel optimistic ahead of an Ashes series, England fans will be wary of being too confident when the campaign gets underway in Australia next year.

We haven’t enjoyed Ashes success down under since a 3-1 series win in 2010/11, which remains England’s only triumph on Australian soil since 1987. Led by captain Andrew Strauss, the visitors broke the mould with a rousing victory that stunned the hosts.

England turned up in Oz with a squad packed full of superstars, including James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Kevin Pietersen and Graeme Swann. But while they all contributed to the famous victory, it was Alastair Cook who stole the show.

Their record runs scorer topped the charts for the series, knocking an incredible 766 across the five matches, almost 200 more than his closest rival. Cook kicked things off with an unbeaten 235 in the opening Test, before a strong 189 in the final match secured him player of the series.

Remarkably, that iconic England win more than 12 years ago was the last time a visiting side has won an Ashes series and that miserable away form was summed up perfectly in our last venture to Australia.

England lost the first three matches to emphatically end their chances of winning the famous urn, before losing the final Test after the fourth ended in a draw. While it was a campaign to forget, it ultimately paved the way for a new era of Test cricket for England.

Following the series, coach Chris Silverwood was sacked, while captain Joe Root soon followed as he stepped down a few months later. These events led to Brendon McCullum taking charge and Ben Stokes coming in as skipper. The pair adopted a brand-new style known as ‘Bazball’ that we’ve all grown to love and the all-action, aggressive approach may just spawn another famous victory in Australia next winter.

What happened last time?

England haven’t won the Ashes since a gripping 3-2 success back in 2015 but they came so close to finally reclaiming the title last summer. Australia arrived in search of their second successive victory and it looked like a foregone conclusion as they raced into a 2-0 lead with wins at Edgbaston and Lord’s.

The series wasn’t without controversy as Jonny Bairstow was infamously called out after leaving his crease and being stumped by Alex Carey. Despite England’s protestations, the decision remained final and the incident seemed to spur the hosts on.

Stokes’ side came out swinging and won the following match in Headingley. Yet despite looking good to draw the series at Old Trafford, the fourth Test was disrupted by rain and was eventually abandoned, ending in a draw.

That meant that the best England could hope for was a draw in the series, which wouldn’t be enough to reclaim the Ashes due to Australia being the holders. Despite that, England were on top form in the final Test at The Oval and won by 49 runs.

Midway through the Test, Broad announced his intention to retire following the match and in a fitting departure, the final two days belonged to him. The England legend was on fire in his farewell, smashing the final ever delivery he faced for six before his ball saw Carey caught behind to win England the match and tie the series.

England women to host West Indies and India next summer

An epic summer of cricket is just about coming to a close but don’t worry because attention has already turned to next year. Both the men’s and women’s sides have already scheduled fixtures for summer 2025 in all formats.

England’s women’s team are set for a bumper few months of white-ball action, with the West Indies and India visiting for consecutive T20 and ODI series. And with the T20 World Cup a matter of days away, they’ll be hoping to go into next summer with the honour of being called world champions.

England look to build on last World Cup

The T20 World Cup gets underway next week and England are among the favourites having reached the semi-finals last time out. The competition will take place in the United Arab Emirates, with England set to face Bangladesh, Scotland, South Africa and the West Indies in the groups.

Head coach Jon Lewis has generally stuck with the tried and tested, with 11 of the 15 players selected last time keeping their place in the squad. They boast bundles of talent, including the likes of Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt.

While Australia are clear favourites to win the competition for the seventh time, England will fancy their chances. They’ve won it just once, back in 2009, while they’ve finished as runners-up on three separate occasions.

England start summer against West Indies

With England set to face West Indies in the group stage, they’ll get a preview of their tactics ahead of next summer. The pair last met in the last World Cup a year ago, where England sailed through their group as they won all four of their matches.

They faced West Indies in their opening game in South Africa, winning by seven wickets. All-rounder Sciver-Brunt was the star that day, earning player of the match as she notched an unbeaten 40. Despite their dominance in the group, England ultimately lost in the semi-finals to the hosts.

England last met West Indies in an ODI series in December 2022, winning all three games on their Caribbean tour. Earlier that year, England reached the World Cup final, eventually losing to Australia, and the West Indies got the better of them in the group stage.

With the white ball series not starting for another eight months or so, there’s still plenty of cricket to be played before the two great cricketing nations lock horns. Yet with England’s World Cup squad packed with household names and ever-present stars, it would be fair to assume that their meeting in Dubai next month will reflect next summer’s meetings.

T20 series vs West Indies

Wednesday 21st May, 2025 – The Spitfire Ground, Canterbury
Friday 23rd May, 2025 – The 1st Central County Ground, Hove
Monday 26th May, 2025 – The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford

ODI series vs West Indies

Friday 30th May, 2025 – The County Ground, Derby
Wednesday 4th June, 2025 – Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester
Saturday 7th June, 2025 – Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton

Can England get the better of India?

When it comes to England’s men’s side, a series against India would strike fear into the nation. Yet for the women, England are above India in both the T20 and ODI world rankings and will likely be favourites when they meet next summer.

Following their white-ball series with the West Indies, England will take on India, who they also beat in the group stage of the last T20 World Cup. It was a tighter affair, with just 11 runs in it, and once again Sciver-Brunt was the difference. She was ultimately selected in the team of the tournament alongside international teammate Sophie Ecclestone.

England followed that up in their tour of India last winter, beating them 2-1 in the T20 series. Prior to that, the pair’s last ODI meeting saw India run out 3-0 winners, beating England on home soil at Hove, Canterbury and Lord’s.

They’ll meet again next summer, with five T20 fixtures before a trio of One Day Internationals. If you fancy enjoying the action from the best seats at the house, why not beat the rush and book you place?

Join Engage in our exclusive hospitality areas at all T20 and ODI fixtures against India. As well as the best views available of the cricket, you can also take advantage of our unrivalled food and drinks packages, as well as the opportunity to meet cricketing legends. Enquire today to book your place.

T20 series vs India

Saturday 28th June, 2025 – Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Tuesday 1st July, 2025 – Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol
Friday 4th July, 2025 – The Kia Oval, London
Wednesday 9th July, 2025 – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
Saturday 12th July, 2025 – Edgbaston, Birmingham

ODI series vs India

Wednesday 16th July, 2025 – Utilita Bowl, Southampton
Saturday 19th July, 2025 – Lord’s, London
Tuesday 22nd July, 2025 – Seat Unique Riverside, Chester-le-Street

Gloucestershire crowned T20 champions on dramatic finals day at Edgbaston

It was a bittersweet day for cricket fans on Saturday. While it was wonderful seeing Gloucestershire lift the T20 Blast trophy for the first time, their triumphant win over Somerset means one other thing – the summer cricket season is coming to an end.

It’s been a thrilling few months of the sport across all formats and, as ever, the T20 competition continued to live up to its thrilling reputation. Gloucestershire weren’t fancied to go all the way this year, particularly after only finishing fourth in the groups.

But a pair of stunning performances at Edgbaston silenced the doubters to etch their name on the trophy forever.

Gloucestershire claim maiden T20 Blast title

A thrilling finals day at Edgbaston saw Gloucestershire overcome Somerset by eight wickets to lift the trophy for the first time. Despite finishing fourth in the group standings and scraping through, they delivered a champion’s performance.

Gloucestershire were comfortable throughout and won the game with five overs left thanks to an unbeaten 58 from Miles Hammond, as well as a strong knock of 53 from Australian star Cameron Bancroft.

Meanwhile, Matthew Taylor stole the show with the ball in hand as he was crowned player of the match. The fast bowler took a remarkable three wickets for just 18 runs, picking up where he left off having secured 3/25 in the semi-final earlier in the day.

Gloucestershire were playing in their first T20 final since 2007. They lost to Kent Spitfires on that day 17 years ago but good things come to those who wait and they’ve finally come out on top following a brilliant campaign.

David Payne finished top of the pile in the wickets rankings, taking 33 throughout the competition. Meanwhile, Bancroft, who returned to Gloucestershire this season, scored 534 runs, the fourth-most in the standings.

Surrey peter out and Somerset fail to retain crown

Ahead of finals day, many were expecting Surrey to claim their first title since the inaugural T20 Blast season back in 2003. The side based at The Oval dominated in the group stages, finishing top of the pile after winning nine of their 14 matches.

And after seeing off Durham in their quarter-final clash, they were confident ahead of their final four match-up against Somerset. Surrey beat Durham by five wickets thanks to a powerful 67 from Dom Sibley, but they came unstuck in the semis.

Somerset’s Sean Dickson was the man in form with the bat, recording a knock of 78 as the west country side won by six wickets, securing the win with just eight balls left. They were the reigning champions and were looking to retain their crown having beaten Essex Eagles in the final a year ago.

But their momentum dwindled on Saturday evening and they could only finish as runners-up. Somerset weren’t the only side to feel the wrath of new champions Gloucestershire, as Sussex can attest to.

They completed an all southern line-up on finals day and would have been confident ahead of their semi-final clash. Like Surrey before them, they won nine of their group matches and finished second in the standings.

Sussex possess quality throughout their squad and boast the talent of Daniel Hughes in their side, who topped the run-scoring charts with a phenomenal 596 during the competition. But it wasn’t to be in the semi-final as they never really got going and ultimately lost by eight wickets with more than seven overs left in the bank.

England stars miss out due to scheduling clash

While the T20 Blast finals day went smoothly and was enjoyed by all, there were secretly (and not so secretly) plenty of grumblings about the scheduling of the showpiece event at Edgbaston.

With England scheduled to take on Australia in their T20 series on Friday and Sunday, either side of the Blast finals on Saturday, the counties involved were forced to go without their international stars, significantly weakening their playing squads.

Surrey, who struggled in their semi-final defeat to Somerset, were the worst affected. They were without Jamie Overton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks and Reece Topley. Luckily, they were able to play the returning Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith and Dan Lawrence, who have been playing for England’s Test side this summer.

Meanwhile, Sussex had no choice but to play without fast bowler Jofra Archer, who got two wickets for just 20 runs in their quarter-final win over Lancashire. And the lack of England talent available wasn’t the only issue with the scheduling.

As well as clashing with England’s games against Australia, the quarter-finals took place more than six weeks after the end of the group stage, which came to a close on 19th July. This meant that finals day was almost two months after the groups concluded.

The T20 Blast is among the most popular competitions in world cricket but leaving such a huge gap between matches will undoubtedly stall momentum, with fans likely to lose interest in proceedings. Capitalising when the tournament’s popularity is at its peak would surely make sense, placing the knockout stages in the weeks immediately following the conclusion of the group stage.

Similarly, while finals day was ultimately unaffected by the weather, there were fears that rain could ruin the day, as it did for England’s third and final T20 international against Australia on Sunday. Moving finals day to earlier in the summer would increase the chances of unaffected play, as long as it avoided clashing with international matches.

It remains to be seen whether those in charge will take action when scheduling next season’s competition. But considering the amount of uproar, it would make sense for them to at least consider preserving the quality of the world’s most popular T20 competition before it’s too late.

England start new white-ball era against old rivals Australia

Fixtures: Ageas Bowl | Sophia Gardens | Emirates Old Trafford | Trent Bridge | Headingley | Riverside | Lord’s | Seat Unique Stadium

We’ve enjoyed a thrilling summer of cricket and while the sunshine is slowly waving goodbye for another year, there’s still plenty more action to look forward to.

Domestically, The Hundred and the T20 Blast have been keeping fans entertained, while England have been strutting their stuff in Test match series against the West Indies and Sri Lanka.

The international cricket continues next week as England take on old rivals Australia in a white-ball series, with three T20 matches and five ODIs to look forward to. Both sides are entering new eras, with plenty of changes both on and off the pitch – here’s everything you need to know.

Out with the old, in with the new

The upcoming white-ball series sees England heading in a fresh direction. After two years in charge, Matthew Mott has left as head coach, with former England opener Marcus Trescothick taking temporary charge. Test coach Brendon McCullum is set to take permanent charge from January, taking dual charge of all formats.

Mott guided England to T20 World Cup glory back in 2022, beating Pakistan in the final, but after a disappointing ODI World Cup defence last autumn and a semi-final defeat in this year’s T20 edition, the time has come for somebody else to lead the way.

Alongside chief selector Luke Wright, Trescothick has wasted no time in shaping up the squad for the games against Australia. England’s Test side has been revolutionised in recent years under McCullum and with the white-ball equivalent under performing, perhaps radical change will breathe new life into them.

Jonny Bairstow has been left out of both squads, raising questions about the future of his England career, while Moeen Ali has announced his retirement from international cricket. And while the squad is still packed with experience, including Jofra Archer, Jos Buttler and Phil Salt, there will be plenty of opportunities for youngsters to prove their worth.

England have called up five uncapped players in the form of Jacob Bethell, Dan Mousley, Jordan Cox, John Turner and Josh Hull. Meanwhile, Surrey pair Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson are also included and they’ll be hoping their red-ball form can translate after starring for England’s Test side this summer.

Despite being selected, Buttler is set to miss the T20 series with a calf injury, with his participation in the ODIs also in jeopardy. The white-ball captain hasn’t played since England’s semi-final defeat to India and Salt will skipper the side in his place.

Can England beat old rivals Australia?

England and Australia enjoy one of the oldest rivalries in world sport and both sides will be desperate to come out on top in the white-ball series. The Aussies won when the pair met in the group stages of the World Cup earlier this summer, although they were ultimately knocked out in the Super 8 round.

They’ve fared better playing 50-ball cricket and they’re the reigning ODI World Cup champions after beating India by six wickets in last year’s final. But their squad looks different this time around as, much like England, they’re looking towards the future.

Cooper Connolly has been drafted into the squad for the first time and there are hopes that he could be the next star of Australian cricket. Jake Fraser-McGurk also boasts a lot of potential, although he was out for a duck in his recent debut.

England’s old nemesis David Warner has retired, while Pat Cummins has been rested for the tour. Ashton Agar and Matthew Wade also miss out, while Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell will join the squad for the ODI series.

Mitchell Marsh will captain the visitors for the tour and their squad is still packed with stars, including Adam Zampa, who took 23 wickets and was in the team of the tournament in Australia’s World Cup win.

England will be looking to change their luck against their rivals in this series. It’s been four years since they beat Australia in an ODI, with their last win coming in Manchester in September 2020. On the contrary, however, Australia have won just two of their last nine T20 meetings with England.

The Aussies warmed up for the series with three T20 clashes against Scotland and they obliterated them in the opener. The hosts had no answer as they lost by seven wickets, with Travis Head scoring a remarkable 80 off 25 balls.

And they didn’t take their foot off the gas in the next games either. An impressive 103 from Josh Inglis secured a 70-run win in the second match before Cameron Green stole the show in the final encounter, taking three wickets before hitting an unbeaten 62.

England v Australia fixtures

With three T20 matches and five One Day Internationals to enjoy over the coming weeks, you’ve got plenty of chances to see England’s new-look white-ball side in action.

If you want to see the matches from the best seats in the house, why not take advantage of Engage’s exclusive hospitality packages. Enquire today to book your place.

T20 matches

Wednesday 11th SeptemberAgeas Bowl

Friday 13th SeptemberSophia Gardens

Sunday 15th SeptemberOld Trafford

ODI matches

Thursday 19th SeptemberTrent Bridge

Saturday 21st SeptemberHeadingley

Tuesday 24th SeptemberRiverside

Friday 27th SeptemberLord’s

Sunday 29th SeptemberSeat Unique Stadium

England’s new-look Test side target unbeaten summer

After struggling on tour in India earlier this year, it was clear that something needed to change for England’s Test side. Luckily for us, the guys in charge have no fear when it comes to shaking things up.

England have become famous for their all-action, aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach in recent years and after packing their squad with young and hungry stars this year, they’re finally reaping the benefits.

England sweep West Indies aside

In the first of England’s summer Test series, Ben Stokes’ side came up against the West Indies in three matches and ultimately taught them a cricketing lesson, with the first game coming at Lord’s.

Gus Atkinson produced a masterclass with the ball, wowing the fans at the home of cricket with 7/45 and then 5/61 as he was awarded ‘Player of the Match’. England ran out clear winners, beating their opponents by an entire innings and 114 runs.

Atkinson was less impressive with the bat as he was out for a duck but luckily his teammates were on form, with Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith all hitting half-centuries. For the visitors, Gudakesh Motie’s unbeaten 31 was his side’s highest score in a disappointing team performance.

The West Indies improved for the second Test at Trent Bridge, although they still weren’t great. Pope, who was later made captain ahead of the Sri Lanka series, proved his leadership qualities as he stepped up with a strong performance.

The 26-year-old scored an impressive 121 in the first innings, following it up with a half century in the second. The West Indies managed to get more runs on the board, including a big 120 from Kavem Hodge, but five wickets from Shoaib Bashir secured England their second win on the spin.

And with the series already wrapped up ahead of the finale at Edgbaston, England continued to flourish. Atkinson secured ‘Player of the Series’ with another strong bowling performance, while Root and Smith strutted their stuff with huge knocks as the hosts won by 10 wickets.

England start strongly against Sri Lanka

Brendon McCullum’s preparation for the visit of Sri Lanka was far from ideal. Stokes was ruled out for the rest of the summer after tearing his hamstring in The Hundred, which led to Pope filling in as captain.

But it didn’t seem to bother England as they won the opening match at Old Trafford by five wickets. Sri Lanka looked to be just as poor as the West Indies as their opening five batsmen combined for just 47 runs but captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Milan Rathnayake saved face with scores of 70-plus apiece.

However, a century from Smith gave England a huge lead and despite big knocks from Kamindu Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal, the hosts were never in danger and comfortably held on to start the series strongly.

The second Test gets underway at Lord’s on Thursday and England will be full of confidence as they target their fifth consecutive red-ball win. The series concludes at The Oval, with the third and final Test match starting on Friday 6th September.

Can ‘Bazball’ get the better of India?

England have got a busy end to 2024, with white-ball series against Australia and the West Indies, as well as trips to Pakistan and New Zealand for overseas Test matches. They’ll then take on India and the West Indies again in both T20 and ODI matches next year.

McCullum’s side have also scheduled a one-off Test match against Zimbabwe, which gets underway at Trent Bridge next May. That game will give a good indication of where England are before their biggest challenge of 2025 comes in the form of a home Test series against India.

They’ll kick things off in Headingley before heading to Edgbaston, Lord’s and Old Trafford, ahead of finishing the summer at The Oval as is tradition. And while they’re enjoying a strong run of form of late, India are a different beast altogether.

The two sides locked horns earlier this year and India ran out 4-1 winners in their home Test series. England’s bowling attack will still be having nightmares about Yashasvi Jaiswal, who averaged 89 as he scored a phenomenal 712 runs.

The scariest part about Jaiswal is that he’s still only 22, meaning his best years are still a long way ahead of him. For comparison, England’s highest scorer during the series was Crawley, who scored more than 300 runs fewer than the Indian superstar.

But a home series will be a different ball game for England’s players, who will be more used to the climate and the pitches that they face on a daily basis. The best part for McCullum is that we’ve got a year to work out our strongest team as we build towards the future.

This summer saw big changes take place, with James Anderson’s long international career coming to an end, while the likes of Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes lost their places in the squad. The England side was packed with untried players and, for the most part, they’ve more than repaid the faith shown in them.

Both Atkinson and Smith were uncapped before the West Indies series and they’ve been the standout players for England so far. Similarly, Bashir has more than played his part as the first-choice spinner. If McCullum can continue to perfect the balance between youth and experience, there’s no reason why they can’t get the better of India, just as they did back in 2018 when the hosts won the series 4-1.

Exciting Cricket Line-Up for 2025: England Men and Women to Share the Spotlight

England men play India, West Indies and South Africa in the summer of 2025

The ECB has unveiled an exhilarating summer of cricket for 2025, with England Men and England Women set to play side by side in a series of high-profile international matches.

The action kicks off on 21st May at the Spitfire Ground, Canterbury, where England Women will face West Indies Women in a Vitality IT20. This series will continue with two more IT20s before moving into a trio of Metro Bank One Day Internationals (ODIs).

Just days later, England Men will begin their summer with a three-match ODI series against West Indies Men, starting at Edgbaston on 29th May. This will be followed by a three-match IT20 series. The men’s schedule also includes a historic Test match against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, marking Zimbabwe’s first Test in England since 2003.

Following the West Indies series, both England Men and Women will face India in concurrent series. The men will engage in a five-match Rothesay Test series, while the women will battle through five Vitality IT20s and three Metro Bank ODIs. The Rothesay Test series is anticipated to be a thrilling contest, with both teams ranked in the top three globally. The last series between these two sides ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw, and this upcoming clash promises more of the same.

The Men’s Test series will take place across iconic venues, starting at Headingley on 20th June and concluding at The Kia Oval in early August. Meanwhile, England Women’s matches will be spread across major grounds, beginning with Vitality IT20s at Trent Bridge and wrapping up with ODIs at venues like Lord’s and the Seat Unique Riverside in Chester-le-Street.

In September, the international summer will culminate with England Men taking on South Africa in three Metro Bank ODIs and three Vitality IT20s. This will be followed by a white-ball tour of Ireland.

Looking ahead to 2026, a historic moment awaits as India Women return to face England Women in the first-ever Women’s Test at Lord’s. This highly anticipated match will be the first time the Home of Cricket hosts a women’s Test.

For full details on hospitality options for all of these fixtures, please enquire on your chosen event and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible to discuss your perfect hospitality opportunity.

2025 England Cricket Series

  • England Men vs. Zimbabwe – Rothesay Test: 22-25 May at Trent Bridge, Nottingham
  • England Women vs. West Indies – Vitality IT20 Series and Metro Bank ODI Series: 21 May – 7 June
  • England Men vs. West Indies – Metro Bank ODI Series and Vitality IT20 Series: 29 May – 10 June
  • England Men vs. India – Rothesay Test Series: 20 June – 4 August
  • England Women vs. India – Vitality IT20 Series and Metro Bank ODI Series: 28 June – 22 July
  • England Men vs. South Africa – Metro Bank ODI Series and Vitality IT20 Series: 2-14 September
  • England Men White-Ball Tour of Ireland: 17-21 September

For an unforgettable summer of cricket, be there at the biggest matches of the year in 2025.

The Hundred: Can Oval Invincibles retain their crown?

Summer is in full swing and with the sun shining, there’s nothing quite like a nice bit of cricket. Thankfully, The Hundred is back for another year, with the 2024 season getting underway today.

It’s the fourth edition of the exciting cricket format, with eight men’s and women’s teams from across the country set to lock horns as they battle to be crowned this year’s winners. After eight matches each, the top three teams qualify for the knockout stages, with second and third place playing out an eliminator to reach the final.

This year’s final once again takes place at Lord’s on Sunday 18th August, with the eliminator played at The Oval the day before.

Oval Invincibles target second successive title

The Oval Invincibles have a rich history in The Hundred despite the competition’s relatively short lifespan. The women’s side won the first two editions and a year ago it was the turn of the men to take charge as they claimed their first title.

The London-based franchise dominated the men’s standings in 2023, finishing top of the pile before beating Manchester Originals in the final at Lord’s. They won six of their eight group matches, with their only defeat coming against Birmingham Phoenix.

Now the Oval Invincibles have another title in their sights and they seem to have gone from strength to strength. While they’ve kept the bulk of their key players, including impressive all-rounders and brothers Tom and Sam Curran, they’ve also made improvements.

Jason Roy has made the switch to the Northern Chargers and he’s been replaced by Dawid Malan, who was the leading run scorer in the 2022 season. They’ll also benefit from the bowling of Spencer Johnson, who is back after helping Brisbane Heat win the Big Bash.

On the women’s side, the Oval Invincibles aren’t quite as fancied to go all the way, although they’ll still compete and they know what it takes to win having gone all the way in both 2021 and 2022.

Their 2023 season didn’t quite go to plan as they finished fifth in the standings, winning just three of their matches. But they still boast a strong squad that includes South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, who won the player of the series last year.

Oval Invincibles key fixtures

Oval Invincibles vs Birmingham Phoenix – Tuesday 23rd July, The Oval
London Spirit vs Oval Invincibles – Sunday 4th August, Lord’s
Manchester Originals vs Oval Invincibles – Tuesday 6th August, Old Trafford
Oval Invincibles vs London Spirit – Sunday 11th August, The Oval

Third time lucky for Manchester Originals?

The phrase ‘always the bridesmaid, never the bride’ comes to mind when it comes to Manchester Originals and The Hundred. The men’s side have lost the last two finals and will be desperate to make it third time lucky this summer.

Back in 2022, they finished second in the group stage and edged past London Spirit in the eliminator. But it wasn’t to be as they narrowly lost in the final against Trent Rockets. And 12 months ago it was a case of deja vu as Tom Curran’s unbeaten 67 saw Oval Invincibles triumph in the final.

Manchester Originals boast an impressive squad and in Jos Buttler and Phil Salt they had one of the competition’s strongest pairings at the top of the order. Buttler finished top of the runs standings last time out with 391, 151 runs clear of second pace. However, Buttler looks set to miss the competition due to injury.

To make matters worse, they’ve been hampered by the loss of Laurie Evans who has switched allegiance and joined Southern Brave. They’ll still feel they can do damage and win enough games to reach the knockout stage. But should they find themselves in another final, they’ll face a psychological battle to escape the losing mentality that has seen them miss out in previous years.

Manchester Originals key fixtures

Manchester Originals vs Welsh Fire – Thursday 25th July, Old Trafford
Manchester Originals vs Oval Invincibles – Tuesday 6th August, Old Trafford
London Spirit vs Manchester Originals – Friday 9th August, Lord’s

Southern Brave look to defend women’s crown

Much like Manchester Originals in the men’s competition, the Southern Brave women’s side previously had two losing finals under their belts. Luckily for them, they hit that hoodoo for six by winning the title in 2023.

They enjoyed a near-perfect group stage, winning seven of their eight matches to reach the knockouts. And when they met Northern Superchargers in the final, they won by 34 runs, with Danni Wyatt scoring an impressive 59.

Wyatt scored the most runs in the competition with 295, while Georgia Adams topped the wicket standings after taking 16. Both players are still at Southern Brave and they’ll be essential if they’re to go all the way again. They remain the bookies’ favourites to retain their title, although they’ll face stiff competition from Northern Superchargers and Welsh Fire.

England v West Indies: The beginning of a new Test era


Following England’s disappointing T20 World Cup semi-final exit at the hands of India, attention now turns back to red-ball cricket.

Brendon McCullum’s side take on the West Indies in a three-match Test series, starting at Lord’s on Wednesday 10th July.

Out with the old, in with the new

Following a dismal 3-1 series defeat in India earlier this year, Rob Key and McCullum have rung the changes in order to freshen things up a bit. But in a squad packed with youth, there’s still room for a legend to bow out.

James Anderson is set for one last dance in an England shirt as he prepares to say goodbye following the first Test. The 41-year-old has taken a record 700 wickets for his country and he’ll be hoping to end his international career with a couple more.

One long-term teammate that won’t be part of Anderson’s goodbye party is Jonny Bairstow. The much-maligned wicket keeper received plenty of criticism during the Ashes last summer following a string of sloppy performances.

The Yorkshire stalwart has been left out of the squad, as has Ben Foakes, who has often been mooted as his replacement. Instead, England have taken a left-field approach and have handed a call-up to uncapped Surrey wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.

Seamer Dillon Pennington has also earned a first call-up, while Gus Atkinson is hoping for a first cap after not playing on the tour of India. Chris Woakes returns to the squad for the first time since the Ashes while Shoaib Bashir has been selected as England’s first-choice spinner.

The squad has been chosen for the first two Tests (minus Anderson), with potential changes taking place ahead of the third Test at Edgbaston.

England squad

Ben Stokes, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Dillon Pennington, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes.

Can the West Indies win?

The West Indies are looking to retain the Richards-Botham trophy after beating England on home soil the last time the two sides met in this format. Back in 2022, the West Indies won the third and final Test to take the series following draws in the first two matches.

The long-standing rivalry between the two sides dates all the way back to 1928 when the West Indies first toured England. And while they’ll be hoping they can spring a surprise, they’ll miss the bowling of Kemar Roach. The 35-year-old is experienced in the English conditions having spent the last three years at Surrey. But Roach misses out with injury and has been replaced by Jeremiah Louis.

Yet West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite will be confident that his side can compete and he’ll be hoping to repeat his marathon effort from two years ago. The former Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire batsman was heavily involved in the second Test last time out.

Brathwaite spent more than 15 hours at the crease, scoring 160 in the first innings, his 10th Test match century, before recording an unbeaten 56 to win his side the match.

Hospitality at Lord’s

As the home of cricket, Lord’s is one of our most popular venues and, as usual, we offer a range of exclusive hospitality packages, meaning you can enjoy the cricket in style.

ICON facility

Situated right next to the warm-up nets, our ICON facility gives you front row seats to the best players in the world as they get ready for action. You’ll then be able to take your seats in the grandstand to ensure you don’t miss a ball.

Enjoy a three-course lunch, afternoon tea and complimentary bar, with visits from cricket legends to keep you entertained throughout the day.

ICON Premium

Upgrade your day at the cricket by going premium. As well as the same food and drinks packages as the ICON facility, alongside visits from legends of the game, you’ll have seats in the Compton Stand Balcony. Plus, you’ll also have access to the legendary Old Clock Tower Bar.

Private box

Enjoy an exclusive facility to yourself with a private box at Lord’s. You’ll have space to entertain up to 18 guests, offering them unrivalled views of the match.

Get set for a premium drinks reception and complimentary bar, as well as a light breakfast, grazing lunch menu and afternoon tea. If that’s not enough, you’ll also have access to the Engage concierge service, offering help with anything you may need.

Fancy joining us for the first Test? Enquire today to book your place.

When are England playing next?

Following the first Test at Lord’s, England then take on the West Indies at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston. McCullum’s side will then face Sri Lanka across three Tests later in the summer.

England v West Indies – 18th – 22nd July, Trent Bridge

England v West Indies – 26th – 30th July, Edgbaston

England v Sri Lanka – 21st – 25th August, Old Trafford

England v Sri Lanka – 29th August – 2nd September, Lord’s

England v Sri Lanka – 6th – 10th September, The Oval

int(174)