England schedule confirmed

20 April 2008

David Collier is delighted the details have been finalised

The ECB has reached an agreement with the Board of Control for Cricket in India about the tour series to India in 2008 and the reciprocal tour to England in 2011.

The BCCI preferred England play two Test matches and seven one-day internationals rather than three Tests and five one-day internationals on the tour which begins in November later this year.

In 2011 the ECB's preference was for four Test matches, five one-day internationals and an international Twenty20 on India's tour of England and Wales.

David Collier, the ECB chief executive, said: "I am delighted that India will play four Test matches on their tour of England and Wales in 2011. The ECB has been strong and consistent in its insistence that Test cricket is still the predominant form of the game.

"I am delighted that the schedule for this winter can now be finalised with the BCCI and our supporters can look forward to visiting a range of venues in this magnificent country of India.

"We would have liked to have played a third test this winter but appreciate that with the India v Australia series starting a week later than originally planned this was not feasible.

"The ECB were also determined that the tour should finish as scheduled under the Future Tours Programme to give the England players the maximum rest period before they embark on the Test and ODI trip to the Caribbean."

The independent Major Match Group, chaired by Lord Morris of Handsworth, has already determined that the Test matches will be at Lord's, Trent Bridge, Edgbaston and the Brit Oval.

They have also selected Cardiff, Durham, the Rose Bowl, Lord's and the Brit Oval as the one-day international venues. The international Twenty20 venue is yet to be determined.