England's 2020 home season fixtures

vs West Indies

June 4-8: First Test, The Oval
June 12-16: Second Test, Edgbaston
June 25-29: Third Test, Lord's

vs Australia

July 3: First T20I, Edgbaston
July 5: Second T20I, Old Trafford
July 7: Third T20I, Headingley
July 11: First ODI, Lord's
July 14: Second ODI, Ageas Bowl
July 16: Third ODI, Bristol

vs Pakistan

July 30-August 3: First Test, Lord's
August 7-11: Second Test, Old Trafford
August 20-24: Third Test, Trent Bridge
August 29: First T20I, Headingley
August 31: Second T20I, Cardiff
September 2: Third T20I, Ageas Bowl

vs Ireland

September 10: First ODI, Trent Bridge
September 12: Second ODI, Edgbaston
September 15: Third ODI, The Oval

In between the matches against West Indies and Ireland, Australia played three T20s and ODIs each before Pakistan arrived for three Tests and T20s apiece. Unusually, the opening Test of the home calendar will be played at The Oval, a ground almost always used to host the final Test of the home summer, though it does eventually finish with an ODI against Ireland at the ground.

Once Australia departs, England will be allowed a two-week window during which the ECB expects to involve most senior players in The Hundred, the board's newly conceived and highly anticipated domestic competition. What the ECB has also kept in mind while preparing the fixtures is the accommodation of the Vitality Blast - its domestic T20 tournament - as well as the possibility of some of England's regulars participating in the County Championship.

The ECB chief executive Tom Harrison, while announcing the fixtures, said, "Where every Test matters, there will be lots of points to play for [in the World Test Championship] as England continue their efforts to reach the inaugural World Test Championship final in June 2021. Alongside the red-ball matches, England's ODI contests against Australia and Ireland will see the world champions return to home soil with big crowds expected at all venues. With further interest in T20I cricket, the six matches against Australia and the world number one side Pakistan will offer a fascinating guide to form ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Australia during the autumn of 2020."

Interestingly, England has yet to invite New Zealand for a Test series at home since 2015, with Pakistan getting a third visit since 2016, Australia and West Indies twice since 2015, and Sri Lanka only once since 2016, including the 2020 fixtures.