England

England at CWC 2027

England are in Group B with Bangladesh, New Zealand, co-hosts South Africa, Sri Lanka and one qualifier yet to be confirmed. Their schedule is the most geographically varied of any side, taking in all three host nations.

Date	Opponent	Venue	Start (local)
Fri 8 Oct	Bangladesh	Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek	12:30 (day/night)
Wed 13 Oct	Sri Lanka	Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek	10:00
Sat 16 Oct	South Africa	St George’s Park, Gqeberha	12:30 (day/night)
Wed 20 Oct	Group B qualifier (TBC)	Harare Sports Club	12:30 (day/night)
Sat 23 Oct	New Zealand	St George’s Park, Gqeberha	10:00

Two games in Windhoek open the campaign, before a Saturday night against the hosts at St George’s Park, a ground famous for its brass band. The group ends back in Gqeberha against New Zealand, a fixture that still carries the memory of the 2019 final.

World Cup history

England’s long wait ended in 2019 at Lord’s, when they beat New Zealand in one of the most dramatic finals ever played, decided after a tied match and a tied super over. Before that, they had been runners-up three times, in 1979, 1987 and 1992. Their recent record shows how quickly fortunes can swing in this tournament, so supporters will be hoping for a strong start in Namibia to build momentum.

Conditions in southern Africa

England have toured South Africa often, and their seam-bowling tradition should find something to work with, particularly in the morning sessions. Windhoek sits at high altitude, like the Highveld grounds, so the ball can carry and travel quickly off the bat. Gqeberha, on the coast, is known for wind, which can help swing bowlers and complicate fielding. Harare may offer more turn later in the day. Coping with that variety, rather than any single type of pitch, could be England’s main challenge.

Travelling fans

England’s travelling support is likely to be one of the largest at the tournament. Direct flights from London to Johannesburg and Cape Town have operated for many years, while Windhoek and Harare usually require a connection, often via Johannesburg. Check schedules early, as October is a popular time to travel.

The time difference is small. The UK is on British Summer Time until the last Sunday in October (31 October 2027), during which the hosts are one hour ahead; after the clocks change, they are two hours ahead. Group games starting at 12:30 local are 11:30 in the UK in October.

Each host country sets its own entry rules for British and other passport holders, so check the official government sites before booking multi-country trips. See our visa guide and tickets guide.