Postponed fifth Test between England and India to take place in July 2022 – but match WON’T be held at Old Trafford and instead Edgbaston will be the venue to conclude series after last month’s Covid chaos
- The fifth Test didn’t go ahead when India pulled out due to Covid concerns
- Both the ECB and Lancashire faced serious losses and so it has been rearranged
- Yet it won’t be at Old Trafford because of pre-planned events in Manchester
- Edgbaston will instead host the game, on July 1, while Old Trafford will host the second Test between England and South Africa in late August
England will play the final Test of their hastily curtailed Test series against India at Edgbaston next summer.
The last Test was abandoned in September on the morning it was due to start at Old Trafford when India pulled out, claiming concerns over Covid spreading through their squad.
That left them with a 2-1 lead and an argument with ECB over whether they had forfeited the match, with both the governing body and Lancashire facing serious losses.
The postponed fifth match of the Test Series between England and India has been rescheduled
It will be held at Edgbaston in July 2022, with Old Trafford unavailable to host the finale
Now, with Old Trafford unavailable because of pre-planned events, the teams will play out the climax to the series in Birmingham, starting on July 1.
Lancashire will them stage next summer’s second Test that was originally scheduled for Edgbaston, starting on August 25.
The only consequence for ECB is a shortening of the window they had earmarked to allow England players to play in the Hundred, with white-ball games against India starting six days later than scheduled on July 7.
Tom Harrison, ECB chief executive officer, said: ‘We are very pleased that we have reached an agreement with BCCI to create a fitting end to what has been a brilliant series so far.
Old Trafford will now host next summer’s second Test between England and South Africa
‘I’m very grateful to all the venues involved for the co-operation they’ve shown in allowing us to reschedule this match. I’d also like to thank Cricket South Africa for their support and understanding to allow these changes to be possible.
‘We would like to apologise again to fans for the disruption and disappointment of September events. We know it was a day that so many had planned long in advance.
‘We recognise that accommodating this extra match means a tighter schedule for the white ball series. We will continue to manage our players’ welfare and workloads through next year while we also continue to seek the optimum schedule for fans, players and our partners across the game.’
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