England Women will tour Sri Lanka in early 2027 for a six-match white-ball series — comprising three T20Is and three ODIs — with the two legs of the tour scheduled on either side of the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy, set to be held in India from 14 to 28 February 2027. The itinerary was confirmed jointly by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

T20I Series: Warm-Up Before Champions Trophy

The T20I leg will be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, with matches scheduled on 1, 3, and 5 February 2027. The three-game series is designed to serve as a competitive warm-up for both nations ahead of the Champions Trophy in India, giving squads crucial match time in conditions broadly similar to the subcontinent.

This is the first structured bilateral series between the two sides since they met in the opening game of the Women's T20 World Cup earlier this year at Edgbaston, where England recorded a commanding 87-run win. Veteran opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge anchored that victory with a century before England's bowlers bundled Sri Lanka out well below the target.

ODI Leg: Post-Champions Trophy at Dambulla

Once the ICC Women's Champions Trophy concludes, England will return to Sri Lanka for the 50-over leg. All three ODIs are scheduled at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium on 4, 6, and 8 March 2027. The ODI series will serve as a standalone bilateral contest and will be part of the ICC Women's Championship cycle.

ECB Announces India Red-Ball Training Camp in January

In the same statement released on Wednesday, the ECB also confirmed a red-ball specific training camp for England Women players in India in January 2027. The ECB noted that player selection for the camp will be finalised 'in the coming weeks.' This signals a broader strategic intent to develop England Women's Test credentials even as the white-ball calendar intensifies.

'Sri Lanka Cricket have announced the following itinerary for the England Women's tour in the new year. The T20s come ahead of the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy in India, and the ODIs follow at its conclusion. We can also announce that there will be a red ball specific training camp for England women players in January in India, selection for which will take place in the coming weeks,' the ECB said in its statement.

WPL Auction Impact: Most England Players Opt Out

The timing of the T20I series has had a direct knock-on effect on England players' availability for the 2027 Women's Premier League (WPL) auction, set to take place in Kochi on 28 October. According to reports, the final week of the WPL is expected to clash with the T20I leg in Sri Lanka, leading a majority of England players to skip the auction. Notable exceptions reportedly include Sophia Dunkley and England A player Kira Chathli.

'Yes, that last week of WPL is going to clash with the T20I series in Sri Lanka, which made it a no-brainer for England players to give it a priority ahead of the Champions Trophy in Mumbai and Vadodara,' a source said, according to reports.

What to Watch

The Women's Champions Trophy — being held for the first time — is a landmark event for women's cricket globally, and both England and Sri Lanka will be keen to arrive in India with momentum. The performance of players like Wyatt-Hodge in the Pallekele T20Is is likely to be closely monitored ahead of the big-ticket tournament. England's squad composition for both the Sri Lanka tour and the Champions Trophy remains to be announced.