England Women to play South Africa and New Zealand in summer of 2018
Each international, plus Kia Super League, to be broadcast live on Sky Sports
Thursday 16 November 2017 22:47, UK
England Women's summer schedule for 2018 has been announced, with each international to be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
World Cup winners England - currently in Australia aiming to regain the Ashes - will take on South Africa in a three-match Royal London ODI series in June.
Heather Knight's side will then face the Proteas and New Zealand in a Twenty20 Tri-Series, before concluding their summer with three ODIs against New Zealand in July.
Both of England's ODI series will see ICC Women's Championship points up for grabs, while the T20 series will take on added importance with the sixth ICC Women's World T20 scheduled for November 2018 in the Caribbean.
England, South Africa and New Zealand will each play each other twice in the Tri-Series during double-header match days, before the top two meet again in the final.
England, South Africa and New Zealand's players will then turn their attention to the expanded Kia Women's Super League - won in 2017 by Knight's Western Storm - with Finals Day live on Sky Sports on Monday, August 27.
England v South Africa ODI series:
1st ODI: June 9 (New Road, Worcester - 11am start)
2nd ODI: June 12 (1st Central County Ground, Hove - 1pm start, day-nighter)
3rd ODI: June 15 (Spitfire Ground, Canterbury - 2pm start, day-nighter)
Twenty20 Tri-Series:
June 20: South Africa v New Zealand (1pm); England v South Africa (5.40pm) - The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton
June 23: England v South Africa (1pm); England v New Zealand (5.40pm) - The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton
June 28: South Africa v New Zealand (1pm); England v New Zealand (5.40pm) - The Brightside Ground, Bristol
July 1: T20 Tri-Series Final (3pm) - The CloudFM County Ground, Chelmsford
England v New Zealand ODI series:
1st ODI: July 7 (Emerald Headingley, 11am start)
2nd ODI: July 10 (The 3aaa County Ground, Derby - 1pm start, day-nighter)
3rd ODI: July 13 (The Fischer County Ground, Leicester - 2pm start, day-nighter)
Kia Super League Finals Day:
Monday, August 27: The 1st Central County Ground, Hove
Looking ahead to the summer Clare Connor, ECB Director of Women's Cricket said: "We are very excited to be staging two different series against high-class opposition next summer with an expanded fixture list reflecting increased spectator interest in watching the England women's team in action.
"Last summer's World Cup success must be the watershed moment for our game that everyone is saying it could be. We will measure that through on-pitch performances, ticket sales, numbers of viewers and listeners and our ability to attract new fans and participants.
"The 2018 schedule is an exciting one across both white ball formats and will ensure that more people around the country have the chance to watch the team.
"Both South Africa and New Zealand will be tough tests for England and we can expect a competitive and exciting summer of cricket ahead in both formats."
