While the English Test cricket season traditionally runs from May to September, the months of July and August have always been the peak of the season. Indeed, since the first Test held in England in 1880, over 55% of tests have been played in July and August, and the summer period has become synonymous with Test Cricket.
With Test matches being the golden goose for the ECB, with matches invariably sold out over the first four days, it makes it even stranger that in 2026 there is no test cricket during July and most of August in England. The final test against New Zealand finished on 29 June, with the next one not starting until 19 August against Pakistan.
Ask the ECB and they will blame it on ‘scheduling’, with limited time in the season to fit in all the different competitions. And, it’s no surprise that The Hundred competition was run between 21 July and the climax of the ‘Eliminator’ held on 14 August. It is clearly a commercial decision by the ECB to substitute Tests for short format domestic cricket during the peak season, but do the sums add up and what are the unintended consequences?
The Hundred has generated huge amounts of cash for English cricket and English cricketers. The best paid male player earned £125,000 in 2024, rising to £200,000 in 2025, with Harry Brook reportedly earning £464,000 for his four weeks’ work at SunRisers Leeds this year. Last year the ECB sold off its share in The Hundred to international partners for over £500 million, which will be re-invested in domestic cricket. With ECB annual revenue at around £310 million, this was a major cash injection into the game.
While the financial payout for players and the governing body has no doubt been well received, there are many differing opinions among fans, with many claiming that The Hundred has already destroyed domestic cricket, and bemoaning the fact that the profits from the competition are now going to foreign owners. Some surmise that several counties could go bust, that the county championship will be reduced to 12 matches, and pushed even further into the margins of April, May and September, with Test cricket following suit. Others firmly believe that Test cricket will be dead within 10-15 years, as players and fans opt for the big bashes and big payouts that come with short form cricket.
Fans will ultimately play the key role in determining what happens to cricket in the future. While domestic Test matches are still very popular, with ticket prices starting at £100 plus and increasing, it could soon become the preserve of the privileged few. When younger fans and families can see exactly the same cricketers smashing a ball around in a more entertaining format for a fraction of the price, the appeal of The Hundred can be clearly understood. This is especially true if the option to watch Test cricket in the middle of the summer, and crucially during school summer holidays, has been removed.
Governing the future of any sport is challenging, and this is particularly true with cricket given its different formats, short season and limited international competition. Since 2000 some countries, such as West Indies, South Africa and Sri Lanka have played fewer than 50 test matches and anyone who has watched a Test match in the West Indies will know that the format is not popular in the islands, with virtually empty grounds (except when they play England and they fill up with sunburnt members of the Barmy Army). As less Test cricket is played and viewed around the world, the quality will fall, and however popular it remains in England, a future where truly competitive matches can only be played against Australia and India will quickly lose its appeal.
Regardless of the pros and cons between white and red ball cricket, it still seems to me to be madness not to be hosting domestic Test matches during July and August. With no Premier League football, no rugby union, no golf or tennis, there is a clear window to show Test cricket at its traditional best – instead the Pakistan Test series gets underway two days before the Premier League returns. I just hope that the golden goose hasn’t been slaughtered for short term financial gain.
David Little is a Partner at Bishop & Sewell in our expert Sports Law and Corporate & Commercial teams.
If you would like to contact him, please call on either 07968 027343 or 020 7631 4141 or email: company@bishopandsewell.co.uk.
The above is accurate as at 19 August 2026.
The information above may be subject to change. The content of this note should not be considered legal advice, and each matter should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
