Last month’s controversially postponed fifth and final Test of India’s series in England has been rescheduled and will now be played in Edgbaston next summer in July, the ECB confirmed on Friday.
Originally due to be played on September 10-14 in Manchester, the Test couldn’t be held at the time because of India’s withdrawal, borne out of the inability of the tourists to field a team due to fears of a potential COVID-19 outbreak within the camp.
But the ECB has announced that the series will now conclude at the start of July 2022 in Edgbaston. This, following an extensive back and forth with the BCCI, which was always against the Test being counted as a forfeiture.
With India leading the five-match series 2-1 at the end of the fourth Test, a forfeited game would’ve meant a 2-2 draw as the end scoreline. But a declaration of conceding the fixture on India’s part was also financially pertinent to the ECB, who needed that to be the case to go ahead and claim an insurance payout for the called-off fixture.
However, the matter is settled now, as the completion of the series and the fixture allows the board to fulfil its broadcasting deal with Sky Sports.
The rescheduled Test will be held from July 1 in Edgbaston and not Manchester, as was originally planned. The ECB has been forced to take the India Test out of Old Trafford ground since the new window for the game clashes with a couple of concerts pre-arranged at the venue.
But to ensure the Lancashire county doesn’t lose out much, the ECB has given it a Test scheduled against South Africa later in the summer. This game was originally planned at Edgbaston, and the dates remain the same, however, and the fixture will be held from August 25.
There is one more tweak in the itinerary. Since the India Test has had to be squeezed into the calendar at the last minute, the limited-overs leg of the Asian giant’s trip has gotten a touch more congested. Although the T20I series now starts six days later than planned, its first game is due to be held with only a day’s gap after the fifth Test.
India tour of England 2022
| Fifth Test | July 1-5 | Edgbaston |
| 1st T20I | July 7 | Ageas Bowl |
| 2nd T20I | July 9 | Edgbaston |
| 3rd T20I | July 10 | Trent Bridge |
| 1st ODI | July 12 | The Oval |
| 2nd ODI | July 14 | Lord’s |
| 3rd ODI | July 17 | Manchester |
