England is set to expand its five-match Test series beyond traditional rivals Australia and India, with Pakistan and South Africa emerging as leading contenders for these extended contests. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) aims to reinvigorate global interest in Test cricket by restoring lengthy series that allow for deeper narratives to unfold over multiple matches.
According to The Telegraph, the first such series could take place in the summer of 2028, strategically positioned between England’s Ashes battle with Australia and their marquee home series against India. The ECB’s approach does not necessarily mean an increase in the total number of Test matches played each summer. Instead, the 2028 home season is expected to feature one major series of four or five matches, alongside a smaller two-match contest, ensuring both competitive intensity and commercial viability.
Historically, England hosted five-Test series not only against Australia but also against teams like South Africa, Pakistan, and the West Indies. However, in recent years, the format has leaned toward shorter two- or three-match series, particularly for teams outside the ‘big three’ of Australia, England, and India. The last time a non-big three team played more than a three-match series was England’s 3-1 win in South Africa in 2019/20.
South Africa, once England’s most formidable Test rival outside the Ashes, has not played a five-match series since 2004-05. Their recent resurgence, including seven consecutive Test victories en route to the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, strengthens their case for a return to longer series. Similarly, Pakistan has a rich Test history with England, most notably a four-match series in 2016 that ended in a 2-2 draw.
England’s move to extend Test series is also a response to concerns over the format’s diminishing significance outside the ‘big three.’ The recent decision by South Africa to send an understrength squad to New Zealand for a two-Test series, prioritizing their domestic T20 league instead, underscored the challenges facing Test cricket. By offering high-profile, extended series, England hopes to encourage other nations to reinvest in the longest format of the game.
Another factor influencing this decision is the ECB’s awareness that summers without an Ashes or an India series often struggle to capture the same level of public interest. By scheduling longer series against South Africa or Pakistan, England aims to sustain engagement and ensure Test cricket’s continued prominence even in non-Ashes years.
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