Understanding the Cricket Calendar: Test Series, Tours, and Bilateral Schedules
Cricket's international schedule — bilateral series, ICC events, domestic leagues — can be confusing to follow. This guide explains how the cricket calendar works, how bilateral Test series are arranged, and the bodies that govern international cricket scheduling.
International cricket operates across a Future Tours Programme (FTP) — a rolling schedule of bilateral series agreed between cricket boards. Each Full ICC member nation plays home and away series against other Full members on a rotating basis. The ICC also slots in its own events (World Cups, Champions Trophy, WTC Finals) every two to four years. Alongside this, franchise T20 leagues (IPL, BBL, PSL) consume several months of the calendar, creating increasing tension between player availability and international commitments.
Bilateral Series
A bilateral Test series consists of a set number of Test matches between two nations — typically 2, 3, or 5 Tests. The schedule is agreed years in advance through the FTP. The Ashes (England vs Australia) and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (India vs Australia) are the most-watched bilateral series. Each nation's cricket board negotiates broadcast rights, hosting arrangements, and player fees independently — which is why some series generate far more commercial interest than others.
ICC Events
The ICC organises global events every two to four years: T20 World Cup (every two years), Cricket World Cup (every four years), Champions Trophy (intermittent), and the WTC Final (every two years). These events bring together the best teams from all Full members plus qualifying Associate nations. ICC events are the apex of cricket's schedule — and the qualification pathways (WTC for Tests, world qualifiers for T20 and ODI events) motivate bilateral performance.
Franchise Leagues and Scheduling Conflicts
The rapid growth of franchise T20 leagues — particularly the IPL (India), BBL (Australia), PSL (Pakistan), The Hundred (England), and SA20 (South Africa) — has created significant scheduling pressure. Players increasingly earn more from franchise cricket than international cricket, and boards must negotiate No-Objection Certificates that allow their players to participate in other countries' leagues. This tension between commercial franchise cricket and international cricket's traditional schedule is cricket's most significant structural challenge.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Future Tours Programme in cricket?
The Future Tours Programme (FTP) is the ICC's rolling schedule of bilateral international series — Tests, ODIs, and T20Is — agreed between Full member cricket boards years in advance. It ensures all major cricket nations play each other regularly.
Who decides the international cricket schedule?
The ICC coordinates the overall international cricket calendar, but bilateral series are negotiated directly between national cricket boards. The BCCI (India), Cricket Australia, and the ECB (England) have the most influence due to their commercial power.
How often is the Cricket World Cup held?
The ICC Cricket World Cup (50-over format) is held every four years. The T20 World Cup is held every two years. The ICC Champions Trophy is held intermittently — approximately every four years, though its schedule has varied.