London: English cricket’s increasing reliance on playing home games against India has become even clearer following a warning it is prepared for a “significant loss” in 2027 despite staging an Ashes series.
England and Wales Cricket Board accounts for the year ending January 31, 2026 report a £12.6 million ($16.9 million) profit on ordinary activities and an improved year-on-year turnover of £89.4 million.
They also include ring-fenced profits of £522.3 million on sales in stakes of the eight Hundred franchises, several of which were purchased by groups with links to the lucrative Indian Premier League, for internal investment in the English game and increased cash reserves of £72.8 million.
But those numbers follow England’s five-match Test series at home to India last year, a thrilling contest that ended in a 2-2 draw after a maximum 25 days’ play.
The passion for cricket in India, the world’s most populous nation, fuels money-spinning deals for overseas broadcast rights and the ECB will hope for another boost to their finances when the Indian men’s national side
returns for five Twenty20 and three one-day internationals later in the 2026 English season.
And, in a notable announcement, the ECB financial statement issued Tuesday said the English governing body expected to lose money in 2027, even though it will be hosting a marquee five-match men’s Test series against Australia, long considered its most significant sporting property.
But while it may remain the foundation stone of all Test cricket -- England and Australia first met in 1877 -- and the contest beloved above all others by most English fans, it now appears the Ashes can no longer rival matches involving India in pure financial terms.
“Turnover in the year ended 31 January 2026 amounted to £408.9 million, an increase of £89.4 million compared to the prior year,” said the ECB’s financial report.
