What’s next for England Cricket after the T20 World Cup?

After a disappointing Ashes series in Australia, England Cricket fans will have been much happier with the short-form team, as they reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Brendon McCullum’s side went down fighting against the eventual winners India in the last four, losing by just seven runs, and the New Zealander may have eased the pressure on his role slightly in the process.

If you want to follow the action and check out the cricket odds ahead of England’s upcoming fixtures, there’s plenty to look forward to across all three formats. But McCullum is far from out of the woods, and what England do next could prove decisive for the direction of the team. Here’s what they have coming up.

Tests against New Zealand – June

England have a little time to regroup before the red-ball returns, with a three-match Test series against New Zealand in June. They open at the spiritual home of cricket, Lord’s, from 4–8 June, before moving on to The Oval from 17–21 June and concluding at Trent Bridge in Nottingham from 25–29 June. The series gives England a chance to re-establish some Test momentum and will be an early indicator of where McCullum’s side stand heading into a busy summer.

T20s against India – July

Those involved in both formats won’t have long to rest after the New Zealand Tests, with a five-match T20 series against India taking place throughout July. It gets underway at Banks Homes Riverside on 1st July, before matches at Old Trafford (4th July), Trent Bridge (7th July) and the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol (9th July).

The series wraps up at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton on 11th July. Given the semi-final defeat to India at the World Cup still fresh in the memory, these fixtures will carry an extra edge, and revenge will be firmly on England’s agenda.

ODIs against India – July

England move quickly from T20 to 50-over cricket, with a three-match ODI series against India following immediately after. The action begins at Edgbaston on 14th July, shifts to Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on 16th July, and concludes at Lord’s on 19th July.

With two formats of cricket against the same opposition in quick succession, these games against India represent one of the most fascinating back-to-back series England have faced in some time. Check out the betting predictions when the time comes, as England will be looking to make a real statement across both series.

Tests against Pakistan – August/September

Attention turns back to Test cricket as England host Pakistan in the late summer. Headingley gets the series underway from 19–23 August, before a return to Lord’s from 27–31 August. There is then a short gap before the third and final Test at Edgbaston from 9–13 September. The Pakistan series will be a significant marker for England’s red-ball ambitions, particularly with an Ashes series likely to be looming on the horizon in the longer term.

T20s and ODIs against Sri Lanka – September

England close out their home summer with back-to-back T20 and ODI series against Sri Lanka. The T20s come first, with fixtures at the Utilita Bowl (15th September), Sophia Gardens (17th September) and Old Trafford (19th September).

Three days later, the ODI series begins at Banks Homes Riverside on 22nd September, Headingley on 24th September, and concludes at The Oval on 27th September. It’s a fitting way to round off what promises to be one of the most action-packed home summers in recent memory.

A summer that could define McCullum’s tenure

From the Lord’s turf in June to The Oval in late September, England have a gruelling but exciting schedule ahead. McCullum will know that results across these series, particularly against India and Pakistan, will go a long way to shaping how his tenure is ultimately judged. For England’s supporters, the T20 World Cup semi-final showed there is genuine quality in this squad. Now they need to turn near-misses into wins.