England will make a break from tradition by staging the opening Test of their 2020 home season at the Oval.
The England and Wales Cricket Board releases the international fixtures for next season on Wednesday, with a packed program featuring visits by the West Indies, Australia, Pakistan and Ireland.
The Oval, the South London headquarters of Surrey, usually hosts the last Test of an English season but in 2020 it will launch the program instead.
Which match will you come to watch us at in summer 2020? 🏏
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 21, 2019
After the Oval, England will face the West Indies in Tests at Edgbaston and Lord's.
England will also play three Tests against Pakistan, at Lord's, Old Trafford and Trent Bridge.
Both the West Indies and Pakistan series will count towards the World Test Championship table.
In ODIs, World Cup-winners England will face Australia and Ireland in three-match series, with the last game against the latter ending the England calendar at the Oval on September 15.
Meanwhile England's preparations for next year's T20I World Cup will continue with six short form matches split between Australia and Pakistan.
ECB chief executive Tom Harrison, announcing the schedule, said: "The ICC World Test Championship will add significance and context to the Test series against West Indies and Pakistan.
"England’s ODI contests against Australia, and Ireland will see the World Champions return to home soil with big crowds expected at all venues.
"With further interest in T20I cricket, the six-matches against Australia and the world number one side Pakistan will offer a fascinating guide to form ahead of the ICC Men’s T20I World Cup in Australia during the autumn of 2020."
England Men’s International Schedule 2020
West Indies
Test series
04-08 Jun: 1st Test, England v West Indies, The Oval
12-16 Jun: 2nd Test, England v West Indies, Edgbaston
25-29 Jun: 3rd Test, England v West Indies, Lord's
Australia
T20I series
Jul 03: 1st T20I, England v Australia, Riverside
Jul 05: 2nd T20I, England v Australia, Old Trafford
Jul 07: 3rd T20I, England v Australia, Headingley
One-Day International Series
Jul 11: 1st ODI, England v Australia, Lord's
Jul 14: 2nd ODI, England v Australia, Southampton
Jul 16: 3rd ODI, England v Australia, Bristol
Pakistan
Test Series
Jul 30-Aug 03: 1st Test, England v Pakistan, Lord's
Aug 07-11: 2nd Test, England v Pakistan, Old Trafford
Aug 20-24: 3rd Test, England v Pakistan, Trent Bridge
T20I Series
Aug 29: 1st IT20, England v Pakistan, Headingley
Aug 31: 2nd IT20, England v Pakistan, Cardiff
Sep 02: 3rd IT20, England v Pakistan, Southampton
Ireland
Sep 10: 1st ODI, England v Ireland, Trent Bridge
Sep 12: 2nd ODI, England v Ireland, Edgbaston
Sep 15: 3rd ODI, England v Ireland, The Oval
Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Adrian Dennis
