Oval to play host to extra Twenty20 matches against West Indies
ENGLAND’S already overworked players will have two more fixtures to contend with this summer after the England and Wales Cricket Board announced the Oval will host two Twenty20 matches in September.
The confirmation of these games means that England, whose players complained of burnout last winter, will have just 19 days between the second Twenty20 match against the West Indies and the start of their five match one-day series in India.
The matches will take place on 23 September and 25 September, both will be day night affairs.
The ECB first announced only in mid-June their intention to stage the fixtures, which were not originally in this year’s international schedule.
Surrey chief executive Richard Gould said: “Surrey CCC is really pleased to be able to host these games at the Oval in what will be a colourful and exciting end to the international summer.”
Meanwhile, ticket sales for next week’s third Test against India, which could see England clinch the coveted status of No1 Test team in the world, have exceeded expectation.
Around 85,000 tickets have been sold for the Test which begins next Wednesday. “It’s been like a bombardment,” said James McLaughlin, Warwickshire’s commercial director.