ECB reveals 2017 schedule with series against South Africa and West Indies

England will not a play a Test match until July 6 next year after the ECB confirmed the schedule for summer 2017.

The first half of the summer will be dominated by the limited overs format, with five ODIs in May - two against Ireland and three against South Africa - preceding the ICC Champions Trophy, to be held at The Oval, the Cardiff Wales Stadium and Edgbaston between June 1-18.

A three-match T20 series against South Africa then follows before the two teams contest a four-match Investec Test series, beginning on July 6 at Lord's. 

Matches at Trent Bridge, The Oval and Old Trafford follow before another three Tests against the West Indies - with the first starting at Edgbaston on August 17.

A NatWest T20 clash and five-match Royal London ODI series against the Windies then concludes the international summer, with the last match scheduled as a day-night game on September 29.

Edgbaston will once again host NatWest T20 Blast Finals day while the Royal London One-Day Cup Final has been brought forward from its traditional mid-September date to a new mid-summer slot in early July.

The ICC Women's World Cup will run from June 26 to July 23, featuring a total of 31 matches to be played at Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Lord's and Somerset.

Taunton's hosting of the second T20 clash with South Africa will be the first time the county has hosted a men's international game in more than 30 years. 

ECB chief executive officer Tom Harrison said: "With three different international teams coming here next summer and this country playing host to two major ICC global events - the ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC Women's World Cup - there will be a feast of international cricket to excite us in England and Wales.

"Both the international and the domestic schedule will have a different shape to previous years. And the early season block for the Royal London One-Day Cup - with a new mid-season date for its Lord's final - will support both England's ICC Champions Trophy preparations and our longer term planning for the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019. 

"It will also allow players to focus skills on the white ball game and help more people to understand the structure of the season.

"It promises to be a memorable summer of cricket for all our international grounds and a particularly special one for Somerset CCC which will host its first England men's fixture for more than thirty years; a great opportunity for the county to further capitalise on its strong support for England women's cricket in recent years."

2017 Major Match Schedule:

England v Ireland

May 5: 1st Royal London ODI, Bristol 
May 7: 2nd Royal London ODI, Lord's 

England v South Africa

May 24: 1st Royal London ODI (D/N), Headingley       
May 27: 2nd Royal London ODI, Ageas Bowl 
May 29: 3rd Royal London ODI, Lord's 

June 21: 1st NatWest IT20, Ageas Bowl 
June 23: 2nd NatWest IT20, County Ground, Taunton 
June 25: 3rd NatWest IT20, SSE SWALEC, Cardiff 

July 6-10: 1st Investec Test, Lord's  
July 14-18: 2nd Investec Test, Trent Bridge
July 27-31: 3rd Investec Test, Kia Oval 
Aug 4-8: 4th Investec Test, Emirates Old Trafford 

England v West Indies 

Aug 17-21: 1st Investec Test, Edgbaston
Aug 25-29: 2nd Investec Test, Headingley 
Sept 7-11: 3rd Investec Test, Lord's 

Sept 16: NatWest IT20, Emirates Riverside 

Sept 19: 1st Royal London ODI (D/N), Emirates Old Trafford
Sept 21: 2nd Royal London ODI (D/N), Trent Bridge 
Sept 24: 3rd Royal London ODI, Bristol 
Sept 27: 4th Royal London ODI (D/N), Kia Oval 
Sept 29: 5th Royal London ODI (D/N), Ageas Bowl 

Domestic Finals

July 1: Royal London One-Day Cup Final, Lord's 
Sept 2: NatWest T20 Blast Finals' Day, Edgbaston