England Women to face West Indies in five-match T20I series in late September

All five games will take place at the Incora County Ground, Derby, with all five games played behind closed doors in a bio-secure environment

England Women will host West Indies in five T20Is in a series beginning on September 21.

All five games will take place at the Incora County Ground, Derby, behind closed doors in a bio-secure environment.

West Indies, whose men's side travelled for a three-match Test series earlier this summer, replace India and South Africa, both of whom were scheduled to visit but have been unable to fulfil their tours as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The matches will take place within a ten-day period, with the third instalment on September 26 to be simulcast live on the BBC and Sky Sports, the first time women’s international cricket in the UK has been on free-to-air television since the 1993 Women’s World Cup final.

The announcement comes exactly a week after it was confirmed officially that South Africa would be unable to travel, following in the footsteps of India earlier in the summer.

ECB managing director of women's cricket Clare Connor had declared herself "immensely disappointed" when that news came through, and so both the ECB and Cricket West Indies deserve credit for working quickly to come to an alternative agreement.

^{Sophie Ecclestone is the world's top-ranked T20I bowler}

Speaking on Tuesday, Connor said: “It’s so pleasing after many months of work and communication with colleagues across the international game that we are now able to confirm international cricket for England Women this summer.

“We’re grateful to the West Indies for the pace and determination with which they have worked with us over the last couple of weeks.

“It’s fantastic for the visibility of the women’s game that the third IT20 will be simulcast live on the BBC and Sky Sports and I hope that it’s an event that catches the attention of some new fans.

“We’re all still adapting and will need to continue to adapt to the sporting landscape left by Covid-19. That does not mean that we will give any less focus to the women’s and girls’ game and we’re totally committed to continuing our ambitions in that area.”

ECB chief executive Tom Harrison added: “Protecting the momentum of the women's game was one of our four stated aims right at the beginning of the pandemic in March and I'm delighted that, despite the enormous difficulties that Covid-19 has created, we'll see England Women in action this summer.

“It has been critical to us that our efforts to deliver bio-secure standards and support visiting opponents have been equal to those that have so successfully delivered in the England Men’s series. We are immensely grateful to the team at Derby who have supported this ambition throughout the summer with testing and now delivery.”

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One side effect of the five-match series is that the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final will now take place on September 27, one day later than initially planned.

West Indies most recently toured England in 2019 ahead of last year's Women's Ashes series. The hosts won all three ODIs, while also coming out on top in the only T20I that was not washed out by poor weather.

England, in their first summer under head coach Lisa Keightley, have been back in training since June 22 with a group of 24 players, all of whom will be available for the first two rounds of domestic fixtures on August 29 and September 1.

England currently have 24 players in their training group, all 24 will be available for the first two rounds of Rachael Heyhoe Flint fixtures on Saturday August 29 and Monday August 31.

The squad will then be reduced ahead of the series, with those left out free to return to their new regional sides.

Fixtures: September 21, September 23, September 26, September 28, September 30

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