Oval to host first Test of 2020 rather than the last

England will break with tradition next year by playing the first Test at the Oval, which is also expected to host the final of the Hundred.

Normally the Oval hosts the last Test of the summer in early September but it will instead be the venue for the first of three Tests against West Indies, starting on June 4. Surrey offered to host one of the early Tests because the England and Wales Cricket Board was worried about ticket sales at northern grounds at that time of the year.

West Indies will also play Tests at Edgbaston and Lord’s. England usually play Test cricket in May and the later start could open the door for the players to be available for an entire Indian Premier League season. However Ashley Giles, the team director, has said the emphasis will now shift back from one-day to Test cricket, so he could insist they play county matches to prepare for the West Indies series.

England will then play three T20s and three one-day internationals against Australia, a series of games that were postponed a year because of the World Cup.

Pakistan then arrive for three Tests and three T20s, with the shortest format taking precedence over the 50-over game as the World T20 is in October next year. The international summer will end with a three-match ODI series against Ireland, their first in this country.

The ECB will also launch the Hundred on July 17, which will feature England players for around the first 10 days.

The county one-day final will be at Trent Bridge, rather than its usual Lord’s venue. Edgbaston will again host the T20 Blast finals day.