England to tour Sri Lanka in T20 World Cup lead-up two weeks after Ashes ends

England will begin the Sri Lanka series with three ODIs starting January 22, before playing three T20Is between January 30 and February 3. The six white-ball games, particularly the three T20Is, should give valuable experience to the squad members in relevant conditions ahead of the T20 World Cup, which will be played across India and Sri Lanka between February and March.

However, with the final Ashes Test in Sydney scheduled to finish on January 8, the England men's side would only have a two-week window of rest before the Sri Lanka tour. This means Harry Brook, the England white-ball captain, and other overlapping members between the Ashes squad and the group that will be picked for the Sri Lanka tour, could be in for a gruelling few months starting late November.

The first Test is scheduled from November 21-25 at Perth, followed by a day-night Test in Brisbane from December 4. There's a 10-day gap between the second and third Ashes Tests, but a relentless schedule awaits the all-format England players from the third Ashes Test onwards, which starts on December 17. There's only a four-day gap between the third and fourth, and fourth and fifth Tests, and a two-week gap between the fifth Test and the first Sri Lanka ODI, which would also involve travel days back from Australia and to Sri Lanka.

Adding to the hectic calendar for at least a few players would be the IPL, which is expected to start not long after the completion of the T20 World Cup in March.

What is England's schedule before the Ashes?

For now, England have multiple white-ball assignments, the first of which is a three-match ODI series against South Africa at home starting on September 2. That will be followed by three T20Is between September 10-September 14.

England will then tour Ireland for three more T20Is between September 17 and 25, before heading to New Zealand for three T20Is (October 18-October 23) and three ODIs (October 26-November 1).

Ashes schedule

November 21-25, 2025: Perth Test (West Test)

December 4-8, 2025: Brisbane Test (Day/Night Test)

December 17-21, 2025: Adelaide Test (Christmas Test)

December 26-30, 2025: Melbourne Test (Boxing Day Test)

January 4-8, 2026: Sydney Test (New Year’s Test)

England's tour of Sri Lanka, complete schedule

*The venues for the Sri Lanka tour are yet to be decided.

ODI series

January 22: 1st ODI

January 24: 2nd ODI

January 24: 3rd ODI

T20I series

January 30: 1st T20I

February 1: 2nd T20I

February 3: 3rd T20I