England and Wales Cricket Board have announced that the rescheduled limited overs tour of the Netherlands will take place in June 2022. The three-match ODI series, which was originally planned for May 2020, was postponed indefinitely due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ODI series will take place in the gap between England’s second and third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge and Headingley. Three ODIs are to be hosted at VRA ground June 17, 19 and 22.
The clash in windows means England will send a separate squad to the Netherlands – a practice they aren’t new to. England have frequently fielded the separate white ball and red ball squads, with only a few players playing multiple formats. Their white ball depth allows them to have two separate teams, and it was on display when their B squad defeated Pakistan 3-0 earlier this year.
The ECB has been under fire for cancelling their men’s and women’s tour to Pakistan, citing player welfare as their priority. It is understood that they have been trying to address the schedule overload.
Following India’s withdrawal from the fifth Test due to Covid-19 fears, the board has reached an agreement with the BCCI to host the remaining Test next year at Old Trafford.
England has had a packed schedule since the resumption of cricket after Covid-19 and there seems to be respite as their 2022 summer schedule looks pretty tight too. They’re scheduled to play three-match Test series against NZ, followed by a limited overs series against India and a tour of South Africa.
As far as the ICC CWC Super League is concerned, England sit at the top of the table with 95 points from 15 matches while the Netherlands are at the bottom with 20 points from three games.
Netherlands’ programme has been hugely affected by the pandemic, with only one ODI series being completed. The top eight teams from the Super League will directly qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup.
